Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber turned the primary Premier League gamers on document to fail to finish a single cross in a recreation whereas taking part in greater than 89 minutes in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester Metropolis.

The Gunners went 2-1 up late within the first half however misplaced Leandro Trossard to a controversial pink card moments earlier than the interval and sat again to guard their lead within the second half, solely being undone by John Stones’ 98th-minute equaliser.

By the point the ultimate whistle blew, neither Havertz nor Timber had efficiently accomplished a single cross – the primary time any outfield participant has failed to take action since data started in 2003.

Havertz, who began in assault and performed the total length of the sport, misplaced all 5 of his tried passes, whereas Timber failed to attach with any of his six passes earlier than leaving the sector within the ninetieth minute.

Arsenal accomplished a complete of 148 passes throughout the total recreation, in comparison with Metropolis‘s 644, as they sat again and defended their lead.

Jurrien Timber

Timber additionally drew a clean / Michael Regan/GettyImages

Metropolis defender Stones didn’t cover his frustration in direction of Arsenal’s strategy to the sport after the ultimate whistle.

“They’ve finished it for a number of years and we all know to anticipate that,” he stated. “You’ll be able to name it intelligent, or soiled – whichever method you need to put it. They break up the sport, and clearly it upsets the rhythm for everybody. They use it for his or her benefit and I believed we handled it very well.

“It is not simple when these issues are occurring and also you’re making an attempt to realize momentum, you are making an attempt to get a foot within the recreation and get above them. These little stoppages cease that, and I believed we handled it very well.

“It was a tough afternoon I feel for each groups; how they stopped the play, how they used the aspect of soccer that not many groups do, make it tough, sluggish it down, get the keeper on the ground to get some info on.”

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