Arsenal and Manchester City played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad on Sunday to share the spoils in a controversial game.
In recent years, it has been the master – Pep Guardiola – against his student – Mikel Arteta – and every time, there has only been one winner.
One thing is for sure, Arsenal are getting ever so closer and their Premier League title rivals are fully aware of it and feel it.
Usually, these types of matches are tactical and more related to a game of chess, but it was far from that, with drama from the very off to the very end.
From Leandro Trossard’s red card to John Stones’ 98th-minute equalising goal, it was edge-of-your-seat action and many talking points.
Arsenal’s defence was surprisingly opened up early on, with Erling Haaland duly obliging and opening the scoring, before summer signing Riccardo Calafiori scored a goal of a lifetime to equalise.
Then Rodri went off with a knee injury and that was a psychological boost for the away team, before Gabriel Magalhaes showcased his bullying qualities again from a corner to put his side ahead.
Then disaster struck, Trossard saw a second yellow for kicking the ball away just before the break, it was the Declan Rice red card all over again, with Arteta putting his jumper over his face and reacting in disgust at the call.
It became attack v defence after that, before Manchester City finally blew the house down, but the Arsenal players were still positive after the match.
Gabriel was lauded and applauded in the comments section of his Instagram post and he stated that it was a ‘massive effort from the boys’.
Gabriel Magalhaes helps ten-man Arsenal draw at Manchester City
Rice wrote in the comments section ‘you are too good’, with Vinicius Jr adding ‘mad’ and William Saliba calling his centre-back partner ‘boss’.
Gabriel’s partner Gabrielle labelled him ‘the king of Brazil’ and Jurrien Timber stated that he was ‘diffrr (different)’.
Arsenal v Manchester City Premier League title race
The London club have to move on and see this as a point gained, or else, it will end up affecting them for the rest of the season.
Arsenal will know to remain in touching distance, or even be slightly ahead, of their title rivals by the time they visit the Emirates for the reverse fixture.
And whilst the Gunners have been criticised for accepting draws at the Etihad, you just know that they will go for the win on their home ground against Manchester City.
Arsenal are getting closer to the Premier League title and they deserve huge credit for recent results and performances, especially with Martin Odegaard being injured.
