Man City 2-2 Arsenal (22 September 2024) Match Analysis

John Stones scored an injury-time goal and Manchester City salvaged a 2-2 draw against ten-man Arsenal on Sunday and remain top of the Premier League table after a bitter battle with their bitter title rivals.

After the draw, which was more like an exchange of blows than a game of chess, Pep Guardiola’s side have 13 points after five games, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are fourth with 11 points.

Erling Haaland gave City the lead in the ninth minute when Savinho played a beautiful through ball which the big Norwegian sprinted onto and slotted past David Raya into the net.

Riccardo Calafiori cancelled out Haaland’s goal with his first for Arsenal, a smash from around 20 yards out in the 22nd minute. Arsenal had caught City off guard with a free kick earlier in the match, prompting Guardiola to angrily karate-kick his chair.

Gabriel gave the visitors the lead in first-half stoppage time when he jumped up to head in the corner past Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal were reduced to ten men when Leandro Trossard received a second yellow card and was sent off shortly before half-time for kicking the ball away and delaying the restart.

They looked to be on the verge of their first win at the Etihad Stadium since 2015 before Stones scored from close range in the 98th minute.