Manchester City and Arsenal battled to a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium in a dramatic and fiercely contested Premier League clash on September 22, 2024.The match was marked by intense action and high emotions, culminating in John Stones' last-gasp equalizer deep into injury time.
The game began with Erling Haaland putting City ahead in the ninth minute, celebrating his 100th goal for the club across all competitions. However, Arsenal quickly responded with Riccardo Calafiori's stunning equalizer in the 22nd minute, leaving City's manager Pep Guardiola visibly frustrated.
Arsenal took the lead just before half-time when Gabriel Magalhães headed home from a Bukayo Saka corner. But the Gunners' momentum was halted as Leandro Trossard received a red card for kicking the ball away in frustration, reducing Arsenal to 10 men.
Despite being a man down, Arsenal displayed a defensive masterclass in the second half, thwarting numerous attempts from City. David Raya made several crucial saves, including a leaping header from Haaland and a powerful shot from Josko Gvardiol.
City's relentless pressure finally paid off in the 98th minute when John Stones capitalized on a rebound to score the equalizer, ensuring the points were shared. "I think over the years, we've learned as a team to stick together, no matter who's playing, and to always be ready," Stones remarked after the match.
The draw left Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table with 13 points from five matches, while Arsenal, who played valiantly despite their numerical disadvantage, remained fourth with 11 points. The result extended City's unbeaten run at home to 48 games, maintaining their two-point gap over Arsenal.
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