SETTABLOID

Arsenal’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the weekend would have left a number of the Gunners squad running on empty.

Leandro Trossard’s red card just before half-time meant Mikel Arteta’s side played the entire second half with 10 men. As you would expect this meant Man City dominated, with the home side recording 87.5% possession and taking 24 shots in the second half alone.

When John Stones scored the last gasp equaliser for Pep Guardiola’s team in the 98th minute, a number of the Arsenal players dropped to the floor in exhaustion. “The way the team competes is unbelievable. I’m so proud of them,” Arteta said after the game.

Arsenal’s Premier League title rivals Manchester City have suffered a huge injury blow which could have long-lasting ramifications for the remainder of the season.

During Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against the Gunners on Sunday, Spanish midfielder Rodri went to the ground after a seemingly innocuous coming together with Thomas Partey.

The Euro 2024 winner was seen writhing in pain as he clutched his knee, and was unable to continue – forcing the Cityzens into using their first substitution in the 21st minute, when City were leading 1-0.

Bukayo Saka has broken the records of two Premier League legends following his assist against Manchester City on Sunday.

Saka made another crucial contribution for Arsenal in their 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. The Gunners were left heartbroken after John Stones’ stoppage-time equaliser denied them all three points.

Despite the late setback, Arsenal led for much of the match. After Erling Haaland opened the scoring for Manchester City, Arsenal quickly responded. Riccardo Calafiori equalised with a stunning strike, and just before halftime, Arsenal took the lead. Gabriel Magalhaes rose to meet Bukayo Saka’s well-delivered corner, heading the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

Starting in place of Ben White at right-back, the Dutch international stood his ground with an assured display as Man City attacked relentlessly, particularly in the second half.

Agbonlahor believes the 22-year-old is now undroppable and included him in his Premier League Team of the Week.

“Calafiori scored, but Timber was rock solid. There was a stat from the game that he didn’t complete one accurate pass, but that doesn’t matter.

Arsenal had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday in an early Premier League title race clash. Erling Haaland had opened the scoring after just nine minutes to notch his 100th goal for City but the Gunners turned the game on its head before half-time thanks to Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes.

However, an action-packed first-half ended with a red card to Leandro Trossard in the eighth minute of added time setting Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal up for a second half of backs-against-the-wall defending. They almost held out and made an early-season statement but for John Stones’ goal deep into injury time, preserving Pep Guardiola’s side’s unbeaten start to 2023/24.

Arsenal are in midweek action again as they begin their Carabao Cup journey against League One outfit Bolton on Wednesday night.

The Gunners can take great encouragement from their weekend’s work in Manchester despite John Stones snatching a late point for the champions. Mikel Arteta’s side came within seconds of securing their first win at the Etihad since Pep Guardiola took charge having played the entire second half with ten men following Leandro Trossard’s dismissal on the stroke of half-time.

What time does Arsenal vs Bolton Kick-Off?

• When is kick-off? Wednesday 25 September, 2024
• What time is kick-off? 19:45 (BST)
• Where is it played? Emirates Stadium, London
• Referee: Joshua Smith

Arsenal were denied their first victory against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium since January 2015 yesterday after a 98th-minute equaliser from John Stones ensured the match ended 2-2.

The Gunners played the whole of the second-half with ten men after Leandro Trossard was sent off in the closing seconds of the first-half, and the visitors have goalkeeper David Raya to thank for some of his great saves.

Arsenal drew level through Riccardo Calafiori before Gabriel Magalhaes put them ahead and was rightly named the man of the match afterwards.

However, another Gunners duo set an unwanted record to become the first outfield players on record (from 2003-04) to play 89+ minutes of a Premier League match and not successfully pass to a teammate.

Neither Jurrien Timber (6 passes) nor Kai Havertz (5 passes) completed any of their passes for Arsenal against Man City, and it left Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer dumbfounded.

Arsenal’s equaliser against Manchester City on Sunday arrived in fortunate circumstances with a new verdict given on why the goal was allowed. Just 13 minutes after Erling Haaland put City into an early lead, Riccardo Calafiori levelled with a stunning strike, though his goal was engulfed in controversy.

The Gunners had made minimal forays forward before Calafiori joined the attack to curl home Gabriel Martinelli’s pass with their being a clear reason for City’s openness. Following an incident in the middle of the pitch, as captain, Kyle Walker was called over to speak to referee Michael Oliver.

Once their discussion had finished, Thomas Partey played a quick free kick into Martinelli’s path down the left channel and over the head of the retreating Walker. With City now facing their own goal, Calafiori swiftly netted a superb equaliser, though for two reasons, City and Guardiola were left furious by how the goal came about.