Man City's 98th-minute goal forces 2-2 draw with 10-man Arsenal
Manchester City's dramatic 98th-minute goal secured a 2-2 draw against 10-man Arsenal in a Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The game saw City dominate possession, holding nearly 90% of the ball and attempting 28 shots, especially in the second half, where Arsenal played with 10 men after Leandro Trossard's first-half red card.
Despite being on the verge of a 2-1 victory, Arsenal conceded a late equalizer when substitute John Stones found the back of the net in a goalmouth scramble. The result extended City's unbeaten run at home, with their last defeat coming in November 2022, and maintained their position at the top of the table with a 4-1-0 record.
Manchester City now leads the Premier League with 13 points, ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa by a single point. Arsenal occupies fourth place with 11 points.
The match began on a positive note for City as Erling Haaland scored his 100th goal for the club in the ninth minute, reaching the milestone in his 105th appearance. However, Arsenal responded quickly. Riccardo Calafiori scored a stunning equalizer on his full debut for the Gunners just 15 minutes later.
Arsenal took the lead in first-half stoppage time through Gabriel Magalhaes, who headed in his sixth Premier League goal since last season, making him the highest-scoring center-back in that period. However, Arsenal's momentum was disrupted when Trossard was sent off just before halftime after receiving a second yellow card for dissent, leaving Arsenal to play the entire second half with 10 men.
"I am so proud of the team," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told BBC Match of the Day. "We played the game in a difficult context, playing against the best team in the world. After what happened, we went 2-1 up, it was a different story, and I prefer not to make any comment about (the red card). Obviously, it is already a miracle we played 56 minutes at the Etihad with 10 men. It is unbelievable what we have done."
City's dominance was reflected in the final statistics, as they registered 33 shots to Arsenal's five and completed 699 passes to the Gunners' 202. The point, however, ensured that City's perfect start to the season came to an end.
Adding to City's concerns, influential midfielder Rodri limped off in the first half with a knee injury, leaving his status uncertain. City were already without Kevin De Bruyne, but manager Pep Guardiola confirmed that his injury was not severe before the match.
The result leaves both teams in strong positions, with City holding the lead in the Premier League standings and Arsenal securing a valuable point in a tough fixture.
