Manchester City v Arsenal LIVE: Result and final score as John Stones breaks defiant 10-man Gunners | OneFootball

John Stones celebrates after firing home Manchester City’s equaliser (AP)

Manchester City and Arsenal shared a furious and dramatic 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium after John Stones’ 98th minute equaliser.

City took the lead when Erling Haaland struck early in the game and the champions looked in full control. But the game unravelled for Pep Guardiola’s side, first when Rodri came off injured on 20 minutes, and then when Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori swept home a stunning equaliser.

Gabriel then rose to power home a head and give Arsenal a 2-1 lead heading into half-time, but moments before the break the Gunners were reduced to 10 men in unusual circumstances when Leandro Trossard first clattered into City’s Bernardo Silva and then kicked the ball away in frustration.

City spent the entire second half attacking and left it very, very late to finally get the goal that denied 10-man Arsenal a huge victory.

Show latest update

1727046060

Riccardo Calafiori scored on his full debut

Calafiori told Sky Sports: “This is a high-level game - it’s the Premier League and especially against Man City, but we did well. We deserved more, I think.”

Asked about his spectacular strike, the Italy international added: “I don’t have anything to say. It was a really good strike and I was so happy to help the team.

“At the end, we didn’t win the game, so I’m a bit sad and disappointed as well.”

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori, whose goal dragged the visitors back into the game, felt they deserved more from it.

Sonia Twigg23 September 2024 00:01

Kyle Walker frustrated by Arsenal equaliser

City captain Kyle Walker was frustrated about the Arsenal equaliser, having been left out of position after being called for a chat by referee Michael Oliver.

He told Radio 5 Live: “I’m not ever going to come on national TV, national radio and start slagging people off because there’s enough of that going on around in the world.

“What I’m saying is I’ve not gone over to the referee. Me and Bukayo (Saka) have not gone over to the referee - he’s called us over. So if I’m being called over to the referee, he then should wait and allow me to get back in position before the ball is then gone over my head.

“So if I go over to the referee by my own accord and I’m out of position, it’s my fault. But I’m in position, he’s called the two captains obviously to calm the players down. I’m walking back saying ‘Lads, concentrate, nothing stupid, make sure we get through this.’ The ball is then going over my head.

“Me and Mike have a very good relationship and I think he has a very hard job, especially at the top level. So that’s not me being critical of him. I know he has a hard enough job, he’s got 22 angry players screaming at him continuously.

“If he calls me over, if I go over of my own accord, fair enough. But for him to call both captains over and then not let me get back in position. If I was a goalkeeper, does he let me get back in my net? Of course. I’m a defender, I’m the first line of defence he should let me get back in and be set and then blow the whistle.”

Sonia Twigg22 September 2024 23:15

Guardiola reveals whether he would have used the same tactics in Arsenal’s position

Guardiola told Sky Sports: “The most important thing in the second half is we didn’t conceded fouls. Because they wanted to stop the game, stop the game. I don’t know how many went down with cramp because it was such a demanding game. But we didn’t concede fouls and fouls with deliberate action.

“It was difficult because you can create and cross in the box but they have Calafiori, Ben White, Saliba, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Gabriel, it was difficult. There were ten players there.

“But we were so patient, right, left, right, left to find the shots and the actions. Raya made incredible saves, but we got what we deserved.

“Maybe I would have done the same [as what Arsenal did in the second half]. You have to ask to Mikel what are the tactics. But it was a long ball from Raya to Havertz who showed unbelievable strong, the second balls they go really well for them in front and behind.”

Arsenal’s 10-man masterclass didn’t beat Manchester City – but it might have changed the title race

It was the last kick of a ball by a Manchester City player, John Stones latching on to the rebound after Jakub Kiwior had flung himself into the path of Mateo Kovacic’s shot, just beating the heroic David Raya. Arsenal were seconds away from a statement win, from a seismic victory. Instead, a 98th-minute goal extended City’s unbeaten run at home to 48 games. Their gap to Arsenal remained at two points. After extraordinary drama, nothing changed. And yet, at various points, in different ways, it felt as though everything had.

As Arsenal’s previous trip to the Etihad Stadium brought a 0-0 draw, the scoreline may not suggest they produced a defensive masterclass. Yet they did: a magnificent rearguard action almost brought the ultimate reward, in the sort of result that would reshape a season. As it was, they channelled the spirit of George Graham’s sides in an epic display of obduracy, only to receive a reminder that even when City feel uninspired – and perhaps because Arsenal made them look uninspired – they still had not killed them off.