Manchester City v Arsenal LIVE: Result and final score as John Stones breaks defiant 10-man Gunners | OneFootball

John Stones celebrates after firing home Manchester City’s equaliser (AP)

Manchester City and Arsenal shared a furious and dramatic 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium after John Stones’ 98th minute equaliser.

City took the lead when Erling Haaland struck early in the game and the champions looked in full control. But the game unravelled for Pep Guardiola’s side, first when Rodri came off injured on 20 minutes, and then when Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori swept home a stunning equaliser.

Gabriel then rose to power home a head and give Arsenal a 2-1 lead heading into half-time, but moments before the break the Gunners were reduced to 10 men in unusual circumstances when Leandro Trossard first clattered into City’s Bernardo Silva and then kicked the ball away in frustration.

City spent the entire second half attacking and left it very, very late to finally get the goal that denied 10-man Arsenal a huge victory.

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Manchester City rocked by Rodri injury

So many things happened in the match, but the injury to Rodri could have long-lasting implications for the club:

Manchester City were hit by a major blow in the first half of their Premier League title showdown with Arsenal when Rodri limped off with an injury.

Rodri, who has become a cornerstone of both City and Spain’s success in recent seasons and has propelled himself into the conversation for the Ballon d’Or, went down under minimal contact in the box, in what seemed to be an innocuous moment in the game.

After a lengthy break for treatment, Rodri was helped off the field by City physios, grimacing and signalling to manager Pep Guardiola that he needed to be replaced. Mateo Kovacic came on in his place.

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Arsenal’s 10-man masterclass didn’t beat Manchester City – but it might have changed the title race

It was the last kick of a ball by a Manchester City player, John Stones latching on to the rebound after Jakub Kiwior had flung himself into the path of Mateo Kovacic’s shot, just beating the heroic David Raya. Arsenal were seconds away from a statement win, from a seismic victory. Instead, a 98th-minute goal extended City’s unbeaten run at home to 48 games. Their gap to Arsenal remained at two points. After extraordinary drama, nothing changed. And yet, at various points, in different ways, it felt as though everything had.

As Arsenal’s previous trip to the Etihad Stadium brought a 0-0 draw, the scoreline may not suggest they produced a defensive masterclass. Yet they did: a magnificent rearguard action almost brought the ultimate reward, in the sort of result that would reshape a season. As it was, they channelled the spirit of George Graham’s sides in an epic display of obduracy, only to receive a reminder that even when City feel uninspired – and perhaps because Arsenal made them look uninspired – they still had not killed them off.

Arsenal’s 10-man masterclass didn’t beat City – but it did change the title race

Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal: An enthralling, fiercely competitive game was drawn after John Stones’ late goal ended the 10-man Gunners’ stubborn resistance

Sonia Twigg22 September 2024 19:36

John Stones on Arsenal’s defending

When asked about Arsenal’s defending, Stones said: “I wouldn’t say they’ve mastered it. They’ve been doing it for a few years. You can call it clever and dirty, whichever way you call it, it upsets the rhythm for everyone. They use it for their advantage. We controlled our emotions really well.

“What everyone expects watching a big game like this is there’s drama and whether you’re involved in it, you want to be level-headed and not make silly yellow cards.

“They made it difficult for us being so deep and having so many people around the box. It will be something we have to review.

“For the past few years, there’s been a rivalry that’s been growing. One where we’ve always wanted to be on top. We’ve got one, we wanted three. But we came away with a vital point is something we should be proud of.”