John Stones equalised within the 98th minute to return Manchester Metropolis to the highest of the Premier League and deny 10-man Arsenal the summit and their first win at Etihad Stadium in nearly 10 years.
Centre-back Stones scrambled the reigning champions degree after Mateo Kovacic’s shot was blocked to sprint the Gunners’ hopes of a win many would have thought-about a press release end result, having absorbed 24 makes an attempt with out reply through the second half following Leandro Trossard’s dismissal for kicking the ball away throughout first-half added time.
Gabriel had headed Arsenal in entrance from a Bukayo Saka nook for the second time in seven days shortly earlier than Trossard was despatched off for delaying the restart.
“CITY ARE OUT OF JAIL!” 🤯
John Stones will get Manchester Metropolis’s equaliser with mere seconds left to play! 💥 pic.twitter.com/owIr7jjkJn
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
The guests, who equalised when Riccardo Calafiori curled in from exterior the field after 22 minutes in reply to Erling Haaland’s ninth-minute end, seemed to have held off the Premier League high scorer and his notoriously potent team-mates earlier than Metropolis got here again by means of Stones on the final.
Man Metropolis vs Arsenal: Hosts rescue end result
Regardless of Metropolis’s dominance after the break, Arsenal appeared to have accomplished one of many all-time nice Premier League defensive shows, even trying snug at occasions because the feted attacking abilities they confronted appeared to wrestle to seek out concepts of their bid to interrupt them down.
“Saka takes… GABRIEL’S IN THERE!” 🔗
Arsenal lead on the Etihad! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/MdliWu94MY
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
An abundance of controversy has already embroiled Trossard’s pink card, the ahead changing into the second Arsenal participant to be despatched off for kicking the ball away this season after Declan Rice suffered the identical destiny of their 1-1 draw at house to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Whereas there may be little doubt over the harshness of groups dropping gamers over a benign act on the dimensions of red-card offences, referee Michael Oliver operated to the letter of the legislation, with Rice’s pink maybe serving as a warning of the chance concerned.
“It’s a BEAUTY!” 😍
What a second for Riccardo Calafiori! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/B56ZJC88mu
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
Rice acknowledged that he was at fault over his transgression, which arguably value Arsenal not less than two factors. Supervisor Mikel Arteta – at all times an animated presence on the boundaries of his technical space – advised BBC Radio 5 Reside that Oliver’s name towards Trossard had “destroyed the sport”.
Arsenal can, undoubtedly, take huge encouragement from thwarting Metropolis for therefore lengthy, though that will likely be little comfort within the context of the ache of conceding so late.
Erling Haaland scores his tenth Premier League purpose of the season and a centesimal purpose for Manchester Metropolis! 🤯⚡ pic.twitter.com/SW3FLx1mJf
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
After Haaland raced on to Savinho’s cross to fit in his tenth purpose of the season and a centesimal for the Cityzens, Arteta may have admired the character his gamers exhibited to hit again and nearly proceed to a well-known win, regardless of admitting he was “gutted” to not have seen the end result out.
Defender Calafiori’s strike was one of many highest high quality, whereas Gabriel’s header once more confirmed what a menace Arsenal are from set-pieces, having nodded in the one purpose of their 1-0 win at Tottenham on September 15.
Metropolis return to motion at house to second-tier Watford within the third spherical of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday (7.45pm BST), a day earlier than Arsenal host third-tier Bolton Wanderers in the identical competitors (7.45pm).