John Stones’ 98th-minute equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Manchester Metropolis in opposition to 10-man Arsenal in a bad-tempered conflict between the 2 favourites for the Premier League title on Sunday. Arsenal performed the whole second half a person down after Leandro Trossard was despatched off however had been seconds away from inflicting Metropolis’s first residence defeat since November 2022. A draw is sufficient for Metropolis to retake high spot, two factors away from Arsenal in fourth. Erling Haaland’s one hundredth Metropolis aim had given Pep Guardiola’s males the proper begin. Arsenal turned the sport round due to Riccardo Calafiori’s marvel strike and one other set-piece header from Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Gunners misplaced Trossard for a second reserving simply earlier than half-time.
Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta’s males produced a surprising rearguard motion to carry out till the ultimate seconds when Stones bundled in after Arsenal did not clear a nook.
The powder keg for an explosive encounter was lit throughout the first few seconds when Kai Havertz charged into Rodri to depart the Spaniard needing remedy.
Guardiola stated Metropolis had been handed a bonus by having an additional day’s relaxation and never travelling for his or her Champions League draw with Inter Milan on Wednesday.
Arsenal, in contrast, had been in Italy on Thursday for his or her 0-0 stalemate in opposition to Atalanta.
Metropolis burst out of the traps to attempt to make their more energizing legs rely and received an early reward.
Haaland had not even managed a single shot on the right track within the two league conferences between the edges final season as Arsenal saved two clear sheets in opposition to the champions.
However the Norwegian is in unstoppable kind and took simply 9 minutes to attain his tenth aim of the season and produce up his century in 105 video games for Metropolis.
Savinho’s by ball break up the Arsenal defence and Haaland coolly prodded previous the onrushing David Raya.
Ilkay Gundogan then curled a free-kick off the submit.
However Metropolis’s momentum was interrupted when Rodri was pressured off in some misery with a knee harm.
Simply seconds after he was changed by Mateo Kovacic, Arsenal levelled in beautiful style.
Calafiori was picked out by Gabriel Martinelli on the fringe of the field and the Italian defender curled a superb effort past Ederson for his first Gunners aim.
Gabriel scored the winner in Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Tottenham within the north London derby final weekend.
And Metropolis had been additionally unable to deal with the Brazilian’s energy at set-pieces.
Guardiola’s males received away with a warning when Gabriel headed over his first massive alternative from a Bukayo Saka nook.
The Arsenal centre-back was not so forgiving along with his second likelihood as he shrugged off Kyle Walker to nod in one other inviting supply kind Saka.
But there was one other big momentum swing simply earlier than half-time when Trossard noticed purple.
The Belgian was proven a second yellow for kicking the ball away after committing a foul.
Arsenal dropped two factors in a 1-1 draw with Brighton after Declan Rice did likewise simply three weeks in the past they usually suffered an analogous destiny in heartbreaking style.
Arteta responded by introducing an additional defender in Ben White for Saka because the guests arrange camp in their very own field to repel wave upon wave of Metropolis assault.
Raya was referred to as upon to avoid wasting a robust downward header by Haaland.
However Arsenal largely restricted Metropolis to potshots from distance by their centre-backs as Raya denied twice denied Josko Gvardiol.
It was one other Metropolis defender who lastly received what may very well be a defining aim within the title race come Could.
Stones swept residence the unfastened ball from Jack Grealish’s cross to increase Metropolis’s close to two-year invincible streak on residence soil.
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