AFTER a 97-minute exhibition of why Arsenal might be the next Premier League champions, came the 98th-minute reason why Manchester City have won the last four.
On an afternoon of extraordinary drama at the Etihad, John Stones poked a last-gasp equaliser to break the resistance of 10-man Arsenal and extend City’s unbeaten home run to 48 matches.
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After Erling Haaland had fired City into an early lead with his 100th goal for the club, Gunners left-back Riccardo Calafiori marked his full debut with a belting equaliser.
Then in an extraordinary spell of first-half injury-time, Gabriel nodded the eventual winner before Leandro Trossard was sent off, earning a second booking for delaying the restart at a free-kick.
Arsenal staged a remarkable rearguard effort, including a string of saves from David Raya, to keep City locked out until Stones struck in the dying seconds to send City top.
With Kevin De Bruyne and Martin Odegaard both ruled out by injury, with both clubs having been held to goalless Champions League draws in midweek and with last season’s corresponding clash a dismal 0-0, few of us were expecting an all-you-can eat goals buffet.
Yet Haaland, one shy of his century, began with an appetite for destruction.
The Norwegian, employing what the kids call ‘Beast Mode’, had already clattered into William Saliba, before his landmark goal arrived.
Savinho turned his man,surged forward, split Saliba and Gabriel Margalhaes with a rapier pass and Haaland sprinted ahead to slot home, first time with his left boot.
For a while, City threatened to run riot. Ilkay Gundogan chipped the ball up for himself but sliced his shot wide, then the German bent a free-kick around the wall, smacking the outside of the post.
Arsenal ratings vs Man City
TEN-MAN Arsenal came desperately close to beating Man City.
Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s men, John Stones popped up in the 98th minute to score an equaliser with the match ending 2-2.
Here’s how the players rated…
DAVID RAYA – 9
Well beaten for Haaland’s opener but continued his impressive start to the season with some super second half stops – notably from Haaland and Gvardiol.
RICARDO CALAFIORI – 8
A full debut the Italian won’t forget. Didn’t get close enough to Savinho for the opening goal but made amends with his stunning long range curler to level it.
GABRIEL – 9
Planted one header over but made no mistake with his second one just before the break to score for the second straight weekend.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 8
Clattered by Haaland early on and lost the Norwegian for City’s goal – but dusted himself down and led the rearguard action for the visitors superbly.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 8
Asked to play an unfamiliar role on the right but did a great job for his boss keeping the livewire Doku quiet – and did fine when Pep changed it around too.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Caused Walker plenty of problems in the first half. Played the ball back for Calafiori to score and teed up another great chance for Trossard.
DECLAN RICE – 7
Helped Arsenal work their way back into the game after early onslaught – and protected the back four so well when City were camped on the edge of the box.
THOMAS PARTEY – 7
Quick thinking from free-kick led to equaliser – also involved in the collision with Rodri that changed the course of the game.
BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Always a threat with his corners – not least when Arsenal got their second. Subbed at the break to make way for an extra defender.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4
Steered good chance over. Booked for pulling back Savinho then a second yellow for barge on Silva and then delaying the restart. Stupid from the Belgian.
KAI HAVERTZ – 7
Early collision with Rodri and caused a few problems in the first half but then had to focus on helping his 10 man team out defensively.
SUBS
WHITE – 7
(For Saka 46) – Thrown on to shore up the defence at the break – and did exactly that.
KIWIOR – 6
(For Calafiori 74 )– Gave the Italian a rest for the final few minutes and kept it tight.
JESUS – 6
(For Martinelli 87) – Some good pressing against his old team in the closing minutes
LEWIS SKELLY – 6
(For Timber 90) – Good experience for the youngster but was bizarrely booked before even coming on for his debut.
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Then a major double blow for the champions. First, Rodri – who had gone down injured within seconds of the opening whistle after a barge from Kai Havertz – limped off after a tangle with Thomas Partey at corner.
Within a minute Partey’s quickly-taken free-kick led to Arsenal’s equaliser – Gabriel Martinelli catching Kyle Walker kipping then laying off for Calafiori to wallop an absolute screamer into the far corner from 20 yards.
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The Italian, making his full debut at left-back, had only previously scored four times in his career and it is unlikely any of them were struck as sweetly.
City were livid as Pep Guardiola booted a chair, claiming ref Michael Oliver had called skipper Walker into the centre circle for a word and had not allowed him to recover his position before the free-kick.
Still, the goal stood and, after Trossard had poked narrowly wide, the visitors seized the lead.
Just as six minutes of first-half injury-time were announced, Bukayo Saka swung a corner to the far post and Gabriel charged through a crowd of players to score with a soaring header.
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Ederson had been floored but VAR checked for fouls and allowed the goal – Gabriel’s second headed goal from a corner in as many weeks after his North London Derby winner.
But after Partey was booked for a cynical challenge, Trossard was handed his second yellow.
After barging over Bernardo, the Belgian – already booked for a foul on Savinho – was dismissed for kicking the ball away.
It was especially daft after Declan Rice had been sent off for the same offence before Arsenal tossed away a lead against Brighton last month.
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Arteta sent on Ben White for Saka at the break to give his ten men more defensive ballast.
Unsurprisingly, it became an extended attack-versus-defence drill, Arsenal all low block and bodies on the line.
They also have a goalkeeper at the top of his game and David Raya was called into action three times in quick succession.
The Spaniard pushed away a Walker long-ranger, flung himself across to goal to keep out a Haaland header and then got down well to thwart Josko Gvardiol.
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Guardiola sent on Phil Foden in search of a lock-picker but City were still being frustrated and reduced to pot-shots from range.
Raya made his best save yet to beat away another drive from Gvardiol and with no little use of the dark arts in their delaying tactics, Arsenal almost went the distance.
But from a corner deep in injury-time, a Mateo Kovacic shot was blocked only as far as Stones who sent the Etihad into delirium.
It sparked angry scenes at the final whistle, but it was City who held their heads high with Arsenal utterly broken.
