John Stones’ 98th-minute equalizer secured a 2-2 draw for Manchester City against a 10-man Arsenal in a heated Premier League clash between the two title contenders on Sunday. Despite being a man down for the entire second half after Leandro Trossard’s red card, Arsenal came close to handing City their first home defeat since November 2022.
The draw allowed City to regain the top spot in the league, putting them two points clear, with Arsenal now in fourth place. Erling Haaland’s 100th goal for City had initially given Pep Guardiola’s team the lead. However, Arsenal turned the game around, courtesy of a stunning strike by Riccardo Calafiori and a header from Gabriel Magalhaes off a set-piece.
Arsenal’s hopes took a hit when Trossard received a second yellow card just before halftime. Despite being down to 10 men, Mikel Arteta’s side defended resolutely and appeared set for victory until the final moments, when Stones scored following a scramble from a corner that Arsenal failed to clear.
The match started with intensity, as Kai Havertz’s early challenge on Rodri left the City midfielder requiring treatment. Guardiola had earlier noted that City benefited from an extra day of rest and no travel for their midweek Champions League match against Inter Milan, while Arsenal had to travel to Italy for their 0-0 draw with Atalanta on Thursday.
City came out aggressively, aiming to capitalize on their fresher legs and were rewarded early on. Haaland, who had not managed a single shot on target against Arsenal in their previous two league meetings last season, took just nine minutes to score his 10th goal of the season. Savinho’s precise through ball split the Arsenal defense, and Haaland coolly finished past David Raya.
City’s momentum was disrupted when Rodri had to leave the field with a knee injury, which could be a concern for Guardiola as the season progresses.
Just seconds after being substituted by Mateo Kovacic, Arsenal equalized in spectacular fashion. Gabriel Martinelli set up Riccardo Calafiori at the edge of the box, and the Italian defender curled a superb shot beyond Ederson, marking his first goal for the Gunners.
Gabriel Magalhaes, who scored the winner in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the north London derby the previous weekend, continued to be a threat from set-pieces. Manchester City struggled to contain the Brazilian’s physical presence. After missing an initial chance by heading over from a Bukayo Saka corner, Gabriel made no mistake with his second opportunity. He shrugged off Kyle Walker to head in another precise delivery from Saka, giving Arsenal the lead.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically just before halftime when Leandro Trossard was sent off for a second bookable offense after kicking the ball away following a foul. This was reminiscent of Arsenal’s recent 1-1 draw with Brighton, where Declan Rice received a similar dismissal, resulting in dropped points.
Mikel Arteta responded to Trossard’s red card by bringing on Ben White for Saka to strengthen Arsenal’s defense. The visitors then focused on repelling City’s relentless attacks, camping in their own box. David Raya was called into action to save a powerful header from Haaland, and he also made crucial stops against Josko Gvardiol’s long-range efforts.
Despite their defensive resilience, it was a City defender who eventually broke through. In the dying moments of the game, John Stones capitalized on a loose ball from Jack Grealish’s cross, sweeping it home to maintain City’s nearly two-year unbeaten streak at home. This late goal could prove pivotal in the Premier League title race come May.
