Manchester Metropolis snatched a 98th minute equaliser to disclaim Arsenal a primary win on the Etihad Stadium since January 2015 and stay on the prime of the Premier League desk.
It was a monumental effort from the Gunners, who performed the entire second half with ten gamers after Leandro Trossard was despatched off simply earlier than the interval.
Erling Haaland’s landmark one hundredth purpose for Manchester Metropolis opened the scoring and regarded like it will see the hosts keep their unbeaten begin to the marketing campaign. However Arsenal struck again, first with a stunner from Riccardo Calafiori after which a bullet Gabriel header for the second sport working.
Arsenal had their backs to the wall following Trossard’s avoidable dismissal, however simply because it regarded as if Metropolis had run out of concepts, John Stones wrote the headlines that might show key come Might.
How the sport unfolded
It was essentially the most anti-climactic begin possible to an enormous sport, with a bullish physique to physique conflict between Kai Havertz and Rodri contained in the opening ten seconds leaving the latter on the bottom receiving remedy for properly over a minute because the clock ticked on.
The primary probability went the best way of the hosts as Ilkay Gundogan lashed vast a volley after an imposing contact created the opening – the end was arguably the more durable ability. However Haaland’s opener wasn’t far behind, threaded via by Savinho’s fast flip and move. Bearing down on the purpose, there was solely ever going to be one consequence from the flying Norwegian.
Metropolis’s begin was blistering and Gundogan quickly struck the submit with a intelligent free-kick. Issues may need been very totally different had that strike nestled within the internet as an alternative.
Whereas Calafiori did not cowl himself in glory for Metropolis’s opener, the Italian made up for it in spectacular style when he fired Arsenal stage, seemingly out of nowhere from the sting of the field. Metropolis have been indignant, although, as a result of referee Michael Oliver beckoned Kyle Walker over simply earlier than an Arsenal free-kick and allowed the set-piece to be taken earlier than the defender was again in place.
Gabriel, one other who had been poor for Haaland’s purpose, ought to have scored shortly earlier than he did. Each makes an attempt within the closing phases of the half have been very comparable, getting a run on the ball at a nook. The primary flew narrowly over, the subsequent hit the again of the online. But the sport then shortly turned once more when Trossard was proven a second yellow, not clear if it was a consequence for his barge behind Bernardo Silva, or half heartedly kicking the ball away afterwards.
A person down invited strain for Arsenal, however the guests did an awesome job of repelling it, limiting Metropolis solely to pictures from distance within the early phases of the second half. However David Raya quickly needed to channel the spirit of Gordon Banks from the 1970 World Cup, scooping away Haaland’s Pele-esque downward header. The Spaniard then acquired his legs in the best way of 1 from Josko Gvardiol because the depth constructed and constructed.
Absorbing the strain, Arsenal have been more and more completely satisfied for Walker, Gvardiol and Ruben Dias to have the ball across the fringe of their field – over the likes of Gundogan or Silva. Metropolis have been nonetheless principally restricted to pictures from distance that have been both blocked or by no means troubled Raya.
With moments left, it regarded like Metropolis’s time had come when the ball dropped invitingly to Gvardiol. However the properly struck volley was met by Raya’s outstretched arms.
The seven minutes of added time indicated had elapsed when phrase got here from the VAR that the sport would proceed till 99. And it was within the these additional moments when Stones made himself the Metropolis hero, capitalising on a rebound that fell at his ft. This time there was nothing that Raya, on the ground having dived for the preliminary shot, may do to cease it.
GK: Ederson – 4/10 – May have been extra aggressive when the nook got here proper into the six-yard field for the Gabriel header, however ended up getting blocked in. Conceded extra objectives than saves.
RB: Kyle Walker (c) – 5/10 – Will be barely aggrieved by being pulled out of place simply earlier than the primary purpose. However he was fully executed by the motion for Gabriel for Arsenal’s second.
CB: Ruben Dias – 4/10 – Camped in Arsenal’s half like an additional midfielder within the second half, with out seeming to know what to do with the ball. The guests have been completely satisfied to let him have it as a result of his ultimate ball and capturing expertise have been poor to say the least.
CB: Manuel Akanji – 6/10 – Stopped having to defend by half-time and stored pushing ahead.
LB: Josko Gvardiol – 7/10 – His efforts have been a few of the finest that Metropolis had of their seige of the Arsenal purpose, forcing good saves from Raya.
CM: Rodri – N/A – Appeared to profit from Havertz bumping him however could not proceed after showing to jar his knee slightly below 20 minutes in.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan – 6/10 – Lashed at a very good early probability when he’d executed the arduous half initially. Unfortunate to strike a submit not lengthy after.
RM: Savinho – 7/10 – Made the early purpose with a blinding flip and slick via ball and was in all probability Metropolis’s most harmful spark for lengthy intervals.
AM: Bernardo Silva – 6/10 – Could not direct a great probability on course after Raya had initially saved a Haaland header. Had quite a lot of touches in Arsenal’s third however it acquired more durable to make it depend.
LM: Jeremy Doku – 6/10 – Regarded to attempt to make issues occur however a few blocked pictures from exterior the field have been his most significant actions.
ST: Erling Haaland – 6/10 – Took his early purpose extraordinarily properly, with the early end to the close to submit seeming to wrongfoot Raya. Probabilities dried up as a result of Arsenal squeezed the penalty space shut.
Substitutes
SUB: Mateo Kovacic (22′ for Rodri) – 5/10
SUB: Phil Foden (69′ for Doku) – 4/10
SUB: John Stones (79′ for Walker) – 7/10
SUB: Jack Grealish (79′ for Savinho) – 6/10
Subs not used: Stefan Ortega (GK), Scott Carson (GK), Rico Lewis, Matheus Nunes, James McAtee.
Supervisor
Pep Guardiola – 7/10 – Between Rodri being compelled off and Arsenal’s purpose, regarded numerous phases of irate at instances throughout the first half. There wasn’t a lot else he may aside from will his workforce on.
GK: David Raya – 9/10 – Made essential saves, notably from a Haaland header and a Gvardiol volley, when Metropolis have been camped in Arsenal’s half after the break. Claiming a nook deep into stoppage time summed up his monumental contribution.
RB: Jurrien Timber – 8/10 – His sport was all about defending, struggling to get ahead in any respect, however he completely locked down his aspect of the pitch.
CB: William Saliba – 8/10 – Bodied by Haaland early on however then gained that duel total.
CB: Gabriel – 7/10 – Did not appear to have a clue the place he was when Haaland was performed in to attain. Made himself an actual risk at set-pieces to counter that lapse.
LB: Riccardo Calafiori – 7/10 – Made up for questionable positioning with an excellent equaliser.
RM: Bukayo Saka (c) – 5/10 – Sacrificed tactically at half-time, having barely touched the ball aside from whipping within the nook for Gabriel’s headed purpose.
CM: Thomas Partey – 7/10 – Fought arduous to attempt to cease Metropolis selecting their approach via.
CM: Declan Rice – 7/10 – Shielded the again 4 heroically….virtually.
LM: Gabriel Martinelli – 7/10 – Performed his position in Arsenal’s second purpose by making certain Ederson could not get a transparent run on the ball. VAR regarded and stated it was okay. Quiet with the ball.
ST: Kai Havertz – 6/10 – Courted controversy seven seconds in by bumping into Rodri. His influence was actually restricted, did not full a single correct move all sport, however defended from the entrance.
ST: Leandro Trossard – 3/10 – Let his workforce down with what was in the end a unnecessary second yellow.
Substitutes
SUB: Ben White (46′ for Saka) – 7/10
SUB: Jakub Kiwior (74′ for Calafiori) – 7/10
SUB: Gabriel Jesus (88′ for Martinelli) – N/A
SUB: Myles Lewis-Skelly (90+2′ for Timber) – N/A
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Maldini Kacurri, Jorginho, Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling.
Supervisor
Mikel Arteta – 8/10 – Switched issues to a again 5 at half-time when his workforce have been a purpose up however a person down, however opted for 4 in midfield and no outlet up entrance. It meant the strain was monumental, but parking the bus virtually proved to be the proper tactic
Participant of the match – David Raya (Arsenal)
