Arsenal’s Fight at Etihad Ends in Dramatic Draw

On Sunday, Arsenal narrowly missed a historic victory at the Etihad Stadium, as Manchester City‘s John Stones equalized in the last moments, resulting in a thrilling 2-2 draw. This marks Arsenal’s continued challenge to secure a win at this venue, a feat they have not achieved since 2015.

The match unfolded with intense drama starting from the ninth minute when Erling Haaland granted the hosts an early lead. The prolific striker capitalized on a well-timed pass from Savinho, maneuvering past Arsenal’s defense to score. This goal marked his tenth in just five league games this season.

Arsenal, however, responded resiliently. Riccardo Calafiori, making his full debut, equalized with a powerful shot from 20 yards that left Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson without a chance. Gabriel then pushed Arsenal ahead shortly before halftime by heading in a corner from Bukayo Saka.

Controversy struck just before the interval when Leandro Trossard was issued a second yellow card for what was deemed time-wasting, reducing Arsenal to ten men for the remainder of the match. The decision by referee Michael Oliver was met with debate, as Trossard’s dismissal seemed harsh under the circumstances.

The second half saw Manchester City launching a relentless assault on Arsenal’s goal. Despite the pressure, Arsenal’s defense, led by goalkeeper David Raya, held firm against attempts from City players including Gilkay Gündoğan and Mateo Kovačić. Raya notably deflected a threatening header from Haaland, maintaining Arsenal’s lead for most of the half.

As Arsenal battled with reduced numbers, substitutions were made, introducing Myles Lewis-Skelly for his debut. However, in the final minute of stoppage time, City capitalized on a corner as the ball fell to Stones, who secured the equalizer and salvaged a point for the home side.

Following this match, Arsenal’s focus shifts to the Carabao Cup, with a match against Bolton Wanderers scheduled on Wednesday, followed by Premier League and Champions League fixtures against Leicester City and Paris Saint-Germain.