In a controversial and action-packed Premier League classic at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City equalised deep in stoppage time to prevent a famous Arsenal win – but that is by no means the whole story of the game.
The game between the two title rivals was full of tension and ended in the 98th minute with a goal from John Stones.
Erling Haaland scored his 100th goal for City before a quick Arsenal free kick (more on that below) led to Riccardo Calafiori equalising and Gabriel scored again from a set piece to put the visitors ahead. Leandro Trossard was then sent off just before half-time for a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.
With a man up, City dominated the second half, but goalkeeper David Raya (who made an incredible double save in the midweek Champions League game against Atalanta) was at his best before substitute Stones broke Arsenal’s hearts.
Here Sam Lee, James McNicholas, Charlie Scott and Liam Tharme analyze the action.
Is this a real rivalry?
Until recently, the rivalry between City and Arsenal was rather muted. Perhaps it was due to the friendship between the managers Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, his former City assistant, that there was always more mutual respect than hostility.
There were many signs in this game that the calm atmosphere could change.
Within 14 seconds of kick-off, the visitors’ Kai Havertz made a clear statement by throwing City midfielder Rodri to the ground. If Arsenal’s ire was aimed at one player, it was the Spanish international. When City won the league for the fourth year in a row last season and Arsenal had to settle for second place for the second year in a row, Rodri claimed the difference between the teams was “mentality” – comments that did not go unnoticed in north London.
Rodri had to leave the field early injured (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The reactions of Guardiola and Arteta on the sidelines also showed how desperately the two former colleagues are trying to emerge victorious.
When Calafiori scored Arsenal’s equaliser, Guardiola stormed back to his team bench and kicked his own chair. Arteta was equally furious when Trossard was sent off.
After an exciting game, this trend is likely to continue when the two teams meet again in the first leg in February.
The battle at the top of the Premier League is coming to a head.
James McNicholas
Why Walker and Guardiola were angry about Arsenal’s equaliser
Calafiori’s brilliant strike brought Arsenal level in the 22nd minute but sparked protests from City players. Here’s a recap of what happened…
The foul in question by Ilkay Gündogan on Thomas Partey was committed about 9 meters in front of the center circle.
Referee Michael Oliver calls Walker, the City captain, over from his position at right-back to speak to him and Bukayo Saka, the Arsenal captain. Meanwhile, Declan Rice and Partey have pushed the ball much closer to the centre circle.
Oliver blows his whistle to allow Partey to restart play with a free kick – 10 yards closer to the City goal than where the foul occurred.
Walker has not yet resumed his position at right-back and he and his teammates are signalling that they are not ready. Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli has plenty of space on Arsenal’s left flank – the space Walker should be defending.
Partey shoots the ball over Walker’s head to Martinelli…
…the Brazilian controls the pass and then sets up the ball for Calafiori, who shoots past Ederson from just outside the penalty area.
City’s players and coaches were furious. Walker confronted Oliver…
…and Guardiola kicked him in the chair in the dugout.
Charlie Scott
Was Trossard’s sending off harsh?
Three weeks after Arsenal sent off Rice for delaying the restart against Brighton, his teammate Trossard suffered the same fate at the Etihad.
The Belgian international had already been shown a yellow card for pulling back Savinho – a deliberate foul that Arsenal did not complain about.
Then, in the final moments of the first half, he collided with Bernardo Silva.
Oliver whistled for a foul and Trossard kicked the ball into the air.
He could argue that he thought the whistle marked the end of half-time as the specified stoppage time had already expired by then. Oliver, however, saw things differently, picked up a second yellow card and sent Trossard off for delaying the restart.
The instruction to reduce manoeuvres and time wasting is admirable, but a sending off seems an inappropriately harsh punishment here – especially when it has such an enormous impact on the quality of the game as a spectacle. The second half became an absurd exercise in defence versus attack.
Arsenal players also know only too well that referees take this issue very seriously. Trossard should have thought twice before kicking the ball away.
Arsenal’s biggest disappointment, however, may be their lack of consistency.
In the match against Brighton in which Rice was sent off, visiting player Joao Pedro had previously escaped a penalty because he had clearly delayed the restart.
Today at the Etihad, City’s Jeremy Doku appeared to deliberately hit the ball past Rice early in the first half, but was not given a yellow card for it.
James McNicholas
How serious was the loss of Rodri?
Let’s talk mostly about the first half here, because after the red card the game became a little less about Rodri, aside from his proven quality at long range, which is an obvious objection considering how many opportunities City had to shoot from distance (and little else).
So, before Trossard’s sacking, there was obviously a strong link between Rodri’s injury-related exit after 21 minutes and the fact that City were not playing as well as they did with him on the pitch, or that Arsenal were improving after he left. But it’s impossible to draw a causal link from this, because you would never expect a top team, especially Arsenal, not to start changing their rhythm.
City had dominated early on and looked unstoppable when Haaland scored, but they looked much less certain after Rodri went off. Given Arsenal’s quality and threat, it’s easy to conclude that they deserve credit for the way they responded to falling behind in opposition territory. At the same time, it’s worth noting that having Rodri on the pitch for the whole game would have obviously helped City overall.
Sam Lee
Why couldn’t City handle Arsenal’s set pieces?
Arsenal’s set-pieces have reached an unstoppable level. Gabriel’s header to make it 2-1 meant they have scored 31 Premier League goals from corners since the start of the 2022/23 season. Second in that statistic are Liverpool with 24. No one can hold a candle to Arteta’s side.
The targets and passes don’t change – Arsenal play almost exclusively with in-swingers from both sides of the pitch, with Gabriel’s head being the main target. One notable change against City today, similar to their approach to corners against Atalanta in the Champions League midweek, was to overload the back post and flood the six-yard box to put pressure on the goalkeeper.
City had a warning before the goal: First, Doku blocked Gabriel, they were the only two players around the penalty spot, and when he ran towards the corner and headed over, Guardiola was quick to correct. Walker took responsibility for the second time, another corner from the right, but he too lost sight of the Brazilian centre-back.
(Michael Regan/Getty Images)
The move was the same as Arsenal’s winner in the north London derby last Sunday: a Saka shot in from the right, Gabriel header in the six-yard box. It was only the eighth goal City have conceded from a corner since the start of the 2022/23 season.
While most teams defend against Arsenal with a mix of zonal markers (their better headers) and blockers (smaller players), City’s approach, aside from the one attacking Gabriel, was almost entirely zonal marker-based.
Against Arsenal, teams increasingly resort to more extreme standard defensive strategies, but always find solutions.
Liam Tharme
What did Pep Guardiola say?
We will let you know after he speaks at the post-match press conference.
What did Mikel Arteta say?
We will let you know after he speaks at the post-match press conference.
What’s next for Manchester City?
Tuesday, September 24th: Watford (H), Carabao Cup, 7:45pm BST, 2:45pm ET
Saturday, September 28th: Newcastle United (A), Premier League, 12.30pm BST, 7.30am ET
What’s next for Arsenal?
Wednesday, September 25th: Bolton Wanderers (H), Carabao Cup, 7:45pm BST, 2:45pm ET
Saturday, September 28th: Leicester City (H), Premier League, 3pm BST, 10am ET
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(Top photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
