Man City 2-2 Arsenal: In a thrilling match against the ten-man Gunners, John Stones equalises in the 98th minute.

In a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad on Super Sunday, Manchester City denied 10-man Arsenal a statement victory thanks to a remarkable equaliser scored by John Stones in the 98th minute.

With City's 28th and final shot of an incredible second half, Stones put the ball past David Raya, saving Pep Guardiola's team from their first home Premier League loss since November 2022.

The two-minute halt that ensued when Rodri went down in a heap inside the first ten seconds of the match threatened to end the game's momentum before it had even begun. Thankfully, the opposite proved to be true.

After being located by Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, starting in place of the injured Kevin De Bruyne, unleashed a warning shot but Arsenal ignored it.

In the ninth minute, Savinho cut inside from the right and released Haaland, who shot past Raya and raced free on goal. In addition to being Arsenal's worst Premier League deficit since New Year's Eve, it was also the Norwegian's 100th goal in just 105 City games.

Arsenal equalised in the 22nd minute when Gundogan curled in a free kick that struck the outside of the post and Rodri hobbled off following an ungainly landing. After a swiftly granted free-kick that City claimed was taken away, Gabriel Martinelli dragged the ball back to Riccardo Calafiori, and the Italian curled a magnificent attempt into the top-right corner.

The Gunners' set-piece prowess paid off once again as Gabriel rose highest to crash in a header at the far post to give them the lead in first-half added time. However, a spectacular first half ended in dismay when Leandro Trossard received an unnecessary second yellow card for kicking the ball away after being sent off for a barge on Bernardo Silva.

At the half, Mikel Arteta traded in Bukayo Saka's inventiveness for Ben White's defensive strength, and soon after, the hosts' relentless pressure began. Arsenal put up a valiant defence, and Raya made a fantastic save to deny Haaland a spectacular header and jump.

Chance after chance followed by chance, and each time the Gunners survived. That is, until the very last moments, when Stones stole the equaliser and incited violent altercations between the two teams after Mateo Kovacic's strike bounced.

Arteta: With only 10 players, it is impossible to rally against 11.

Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal:

"The players' actions are astounding. They haven't lost here in maybe forty games because of how hard it was for us to play in regular conditions. Next, the background of what was thrown for 55/56 minutes against 10 guys. That conveys the narrative and the character of our gamers, of whom I am incredibly proud.

"After we took a 2-1 lead, there were two very similar incidents, one of which resulted in Trossard being sent off, forcing you to play a game that no one wanted to watch." I'm just reporting what happened; I'm not talking about anything. It seems quite obvious to me. I don't have to discuss it.

"I'm not here to pass judgement on what transpired. It's my responsibility to try to get things done in order to survive while playing football for 55 minutes in the most hostile atmosphere possible. It's not my responsibility to handle the rest, and this is the second time in five games that an Arsenal player has been sent off, which is quite concerning if we want to witness the finest Premier League. Rallying against 11 players is extremely difficult; with 10, it is unfeasible."

...,,,Bernardo Silva on the distinction between Liverpool's and Arsenal's rivalry:

Bernardo Silva on the distinction between Liverpool's and Arsenal's rivalry: 

"Well, maybe since Arsenal hasn't won the Premier League yet and Liverpool has."

"Arsenal hadn't won the UCL at the time, but Liverpool had."

"Liverpool constantly took us on in order to win games. From that vantage point, our encounters with Arsenal haven't been the same as our past and present encounters with Liverpool.