Whereas many may need anticipated a heavyweight chess match on Sunday afternoon, Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal performed out a pulsating 2-2 stalemate on the Etihad.
Watching the record-breaking Erling Haaland report a tenth objective of the season after calmly slotting previous David Raya within the opening 10 minutes, Pep Guardiola’s males got here flying out of the traps right here.
Nevertheless, watching midfield talisman Rodri limp off with what seems to be a worrying knee damage, Arsenal mounted a sensational first-half comeback as summer time arrival Riccardo Calafiori produced a beautiful swept end from the sting of the field.
In what was an extremely fierce affair from the Etihad, the Gunners surprised the house assist in stoppage time as Gabriel headed dwelling from shut vary.
Though Arsenal may need been seconds away from coming into the interval with a sensational lead, the Leandro Trossard was proven a massively controversial second yellow card for kicking the ball away.
With Arsenal having to play the entire of the second half with 10-men, Metropolis camped out within the Gunners’ 18-yard field and bombarded with continuous stress.
Whereas Sunday’s friends may need defended with an enormous quantity of coronary heart, England worldwide John Stones bagged a dramatic last-gasp equaliser because the 30-year-old bundled dwelling.
In what was a pulsating affair from the Etihad, we’ve got taken a take a look at the primary speaking factors.
Metropolis snatch what might be a season-defining level
Left disillusioned earlier within the week as they opened their Champions League journey with a 0-0 stalemate at dwelling towards Italian heavyweights Inter Milan, Manchester Metropolis have been all the time in search of a direct response right here.
Opening Sunday’s showdown on the Etihad as the one Premier League outfit that would boast a 100% begin from their first 4 Premier League appearances, Guardiola’s males have been determined to put down what may have already been a season-defining assertion.
Nevertheless, though the previous Barcelona boss may need been massively annoyed by Metropolis’s first-half collapse, Sunday’s hosts will definitely take loads of positives away from the psychological resolve that his defending champions displayed underneath an incredible quantity of stress.
Whereas Guardiola’s camp may need seen their 100% begin come to an abrupt finish on dwelling soil, they’re but to endure a single defeat throughout any competitors since opening up the brand new marketing campaign.
Nonetheless extending their keep on the prime of the Premier League desk, Metropolis’s last-gasp equaliser on Sunday afternoon might be seen as an important level come Could as Guardiola’s facet look to interrupt extra home information and get their palms on a fifth consecutive Premier League crown.
Arsenal ought to take a bunch of positives from their heartbreak
Whereas Arsenal may need as soon as once more fallen brief final season as they missed out on the possibility to get their palms on a primary Premier League crown since 2004, the Gunners are rightfully nonetheless thought to be Metropolis’s important title foe this time round.
Though the Gunners may need been hit with main last-gasp heartbreak on the Etihad on Sunday afternoon, Mikel Arteta’s facet ought to take a string of positives away from a gutsy efficiency outdoors of north London.
Battling by means of the entire of the second-half with 10-men following Trossard’s controversial dismissal and clearly irritating the defending champions, Arteta was fast to reward his facet’s resilient show right here.
Nonetheless leaving the Etihad with what was an attention-grabbing level and never permitting the Sky Blues to increase on their 100% begin to proceedings, the Gunners will likely be subsequent seen on Wednesday night time once they welcome League One outfit Bolton to north London for an EFL Cup tie.
Rodri damage will likely be an enormous blow to Guardiola
Though the record-breaking Haaland may need solely additional cemented his spot as Manchester Metropolis’s poster boy after already registering 10 Premier League objectives up to now this season, it’s their midfield talisman who’s broadly recognised as Guardiola’s most dear gem.
Taking part in an important function as Spain have been topped European champions over the summer time, many throughout the glove have billed Rodri as one of many Ballon d’Or’s main contenders this 12 months.
Whereas Rodri may need missed all of Metropolis’s opening three Premier League appearances this season, the previous Atletico Madrid starlet had solely continued on from the place he left off over the summer time.
Nevertheless, limping off halfway by means of the first-half after taking place with what was a worrying blow to his knee, Metropolis as soon as once more struggled to fill the 28-year-old’s void in the course of the park following his early exit.
Though ex-Chelsea ace Mateo Kovacic is perhaps a greater than trusted deputy for Metropolis’s midfield talisman, the Sky Blues do generally tend to battle defensively when the Spanish famous person is on the sidelines.
Match Report
Manchester Metropolis: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Gundogan, Rodri, Silva, Savio, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Foden
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Partey, Martinelli, Trossard, Saka, Havertz
Subs: White, Jesus, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly
Targets: Manchester Metropolis: Haaland (9’), Stones (90+8’) – Arsenal: Calafiori (22’), Gabriel (45+1’)
Yellow Playing cards: Manchester Metropolis: Ederson, Dias, Silva – Arsenal: Trossard, Rice, Partey, Jesus, Lewis-Skelly
Pink Playing cards: Trossard (45+8’)
Referee: Michael Oliver
