Remember when Olivier Giroud played for Arsenal? Yes, it was a long, long time ago, in 2015, and Mikel Arteta wasn‘t even the coach of the team from North London. Gunners were led by legendary Arsene Wenger and he was the last one to defeat Manchester City at the Etihad (coach was Mauricio Pelegrini). Nine years from then, and for the first time in Pep Guardiola‘s era, Arsenal were one minute away from a fantastic win with only 10 men, before John Stones kept an aura of invincibility: Manchester City – Arsenal 2-2. Arsenal‘s attack is good an lethal, but make no mistake, it was Arsenal‘s defence which nearly won this game, both at the back and in the attack. There are hardly words to explain good Mikel Arteta and his men were in this game, and yet they were denied a win by a late, late goal and another Rice-like second yellow card which forced them to play the entire second half with 10 men. Hard to do against City. They fought hard at the enemy ground, they were losing after only nine minutes, but not only recovered, but turned the game around after only 36 minutes. And then they orchestrated a magnificent defense with 10 men against the best attack in the league and were 60 seconds away from the win. 🚨🏴 GOAL | Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal | John StonesJOHN STONES HAS EQUALIZED IN THE 98TH MINUTE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/JA3YczoZNY— Premium Sports (@Pascal_127) September 22, 2024 In this game, Mikel Arteta was the mastermind. He gave a debut in the starting 11 to Riccardo Calafiori, sending Ben White to the bench after two years and boy did it worked! The young Italian was great at the back and he scored a goal which will be on the shortlists for the Goal of the season in May 2025. His debut was as good as it can get, and Arsenal again used their dominance after set pieces, taking the lead after a corner kick. And then displayed their defensive quality right until the 98th minute. After the undeserved draw, questions will be raised over Trossardi‘s second yellow card in the 45th minute, as defending for the whole second half against City at Etihad is tough. Pep Guardiola has lost his head. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/qLZE8fDXw3— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) September 22, 2024 Usually, teams need 10-15 minutes to get into the game before chances and goals come in (if any). Not with City and Arsenal. Within the first half an hour, we already saw two goals and as many chances. The game then calmed a bit, until the thrilling finish of the first period. The hosts had a first good chance inside the first seven minute already, when Bernardo‘s pass was picked up by Gundogan, but his volley went wide of the near post. But just two minutes later, Savinho made a perfect pass to the foot of Haaland who came in between two defenders and shot the ball in Raya‘s closer corner for the lead and his 100th goal in 105 games for City. Gundogan again had the chance in the 15th minute and this goal might have prevented the turnover, but his brilliant shot over the wall ended off the post. Then it was time for Rodri‘s injury and nobody was comfortable when the Spanish international left the field and was replaced by Kovačić. In the 22nd minute, Calafiori scored a screamer and a goal of the season candidate in his maiden start in Arsenal‘s first 11. Arsenal took a free-kick Martinelli gave the ball ball back for Calafiori, who smashed the ball from 17 meters away in the top left corner for 1-1. City players were annoyed at where the free kick was taken from, and argued with the referee that Walker was out of position for it on account of speaking to the referee. Guardiola was so mad about this, that he was caught kicking his own chair, but the game went on. The equalizer and Rodri‘s injury totally changed the mood and Arsenal took the game under his command. Gabriel and Martinelli had excellent chances before the Brazilian evenutally scored and totally turned over the score, your guessed it – from a corner. And just before the referee whistled the end of the first half, Trossard fouled Bernardo Silva and got the second yellow card rather harsh, for kicking the ball away after the foul. Arsenal players argued that Doku wasn’t booked for the same thing earlier in the half, but the referee didn‘t changed his mind. The Gunners had to defend the lead for 45 minutes with 10 men. Suprisingly, it was Bukayo Saka who came off for Ben White and then it became a test for the best defence in the Premier League. Raya was in the spotlight again, and saved shots from Haaland and Walker. From that point on, Arsenal did everything in order to survive until the 90th minute. No possession, no shots on goal, just pure defense Raya had brilliant saves from Haaland and Walker and when the victory looked certain, in came Stones with the late equalizer. ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 5SaturdayWest Ham – Chelsea 0-3 (0-2)/Jackson 4, 18, Palmer 47/Aston Villa – Wolverhampton 3-1 (0-1)/Watkins 73, Konsa 88, Duran 90+4 – Cunha 25/Fulham – Newcastle 3-1 (2-0)/Jimenez 5, Smith-Rowe 22, Nelson 90+2 – Barnes 46/Leicester – Everton 1-1 (0-1)/Mavididi 73 – Ndiaye 12/Liverpool – Bournemouth 3-0 (3-0)/Diaz 26,28, Nunez 37/Southampton – Ipswich 1-1 (1-0)/Dibling 5 – Morsy 90+5/Tottenham – Brentford 3-1 (2-1)/Solanke 8, Johnson 28, Maddison 85 – Mbeumo 1/Crystal Palace – Man Utd 0-0SundayBrighton – Nott.Forest 2-2 (2-1)/Hinshelwood 42, Welbeck 45 – Wood 13 pen, Sosa 70/Man.City – Arsenal 2-2 (1-2)/Halaand 9, Stones 90+8 – Calafiori 22, Gabriel 45+2/
