An incredible battle. Arsenal missed out on victory against Man City in the final seconds
Alex Olise
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
Manchester City and Arsenal delivered a thrilling match in the fifth round of the English Premier League.
The events of the first half alone would be enough for a whole movie. The "Citizens" quickly opened the scoring thanks to a goal from the league's top scorer, Erling Haaland. However, Arsenal not only equalized but also took the lead.
Calafiori scored a stunning goal, leaving Ederson helpless with a magnificent strike. This episode sparked plenty of debate, as Manchester City players and coaches pointed out that Arsenal began their attacking play without the referee's whistle. Nonetheless, Michael Oliver allowed the goal.
The first half concluded in even more dramatic fashion. After a rehearsed corner, Gabriel slammed the ball into the net, and just a few minutes later, Arsenal was reduced to ten men. Leandro Trossard received a second yellow card for a push in the back in midfield. The referee's decision seemed highly questionable, as such a foul hardly warranted a second booking.
After the break, Guardiola's team completely locked their opponent in their penalty area. A barrage of shots on goal (27 in the second half) and total dominance eventually allowed the hosts to avoid defeat. Following a corner, John Stones snatched a draw for his team.
Manchester City — Arsenal — 2:2
Goals: Haaland 9, Stones 90+8 — Calafiori 22, Gabriel 45+1
Sent off: Trossard 45+8 (Arsenal)
