Manchester City dramatically held Arsenal in a four-goal thriller

Manchester City dramatically held Arsenal to a draw in the fifth week of the 2024/2025 Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 22nd September 2024. Initially, the duel was exciting because both teams attacked each other. However, after Leandro Trossard was sent off, Arsenal held out against Manchester City.

Erling Haaland and John Stones scored Manchester City's goals. Meanwhile, Arsenal's goals were scored by Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes. With this result, Man City has collected 13 points from five matches and is at the top of the 2024/2025 Premier League standings. On the other hand, Arsenal is in third place with a collection of 11 points from the same number of matches.

The duel immediately opened with high tension, just a few seconds after the kickoff, Kai Havertz hit Rodri until he fell and the match was stopped for a few minutes but after that City managed to score a goal. In the ninth minute, Savio successfully escaped Calafiori's guard and then gave a through ball to Erling Haaland. Haaland easily poked the ball with his left foot to break into David Raya's goal and made it 1-0.

In the 14th minute, City almost scored another goal. They got a free kick just about two meters from the front of the penalty box in the right halfspace. The ball was executed by Ilkay Gundogan, but it only hit the left goalpost. Unfortunately, disaster then befell City. In the 17th minute, Rodri fell in the Arsenal penalty box while waiting for a corner kick to be executed. It seemed like he had an injury to his right knee. In the 20th minute, he was finally replaced by Mateo Kovacic. In the 22nd minute, Arsenal finally scored an equalizer, and Calafiori made amends for his mistake. With his left foot, he fired a shot to the far post from outside the penalty box in the left halfspace, after receiving a pass from Martinelli. The ball failed to reach Ederson and the scoreline moved to 1-1.

After a fierce fight, a good opportunity finally emerged in the 37th minute from Gabriel Magalhaes' header. He jumped high to greet a corner kick from the left side of City's goal. However, his header soared off target. In the 45+1 minute, Arsenal managed to make a comeback. They got a corner kick from the left side of City's goal. The ball to the far post was met by Gabriel Magalhaes' header again, after escaping Kyle Walker's guard and gave the Gunners a 1-2 advantage.

However, after that Arsenal were furious. Because in the 45+8 minute, Leandro Trossard violated Bernardo Silva and finally got a second yellow card. He also had to take a shower early. After that, the first half of the match ended. Manchester City 1-2 Arsenal. In the second half, Arsenal had no choice but to choose to be more defensive. They brought in Ben White to replace Bukayo Saka. On the other hand, Manchester City also tried to step on the gas. In the 48th minute, they immediately got a chance from Haaland's header after receiving a cross from the right. But the ball went weakly and Raya could easily secure it.

In the 58th minute, Haaland threatened again with a header after receiving a cross from the right. The ball was blocked by Raya but then hit by Silva's shot. However, the ball bounced off target. In the 61st minute, City threatened with a shot from Gvardiol from inside the penalty box. However, his left-footed shot was still blocked by Raya. Citizens then brought in Phil Foden to help break down Arsenal's defense. Then Josep Guardiola also brought in Jack Grealish and John Stones. In the 86th minute, the Gunners threatened with another shot from Gvardiol, he fired a volley from inside the penalty box. However, the ball went wide.

The referee added seven minutes of added time. The Hosts then dramatically scored an equalizer in the 90+7 minute through John Stones' shot from inside the penalty box. This goal was created thanks to Jack Grealish's attack from the left side which then ended in Kovavic's shot. The rebound from the shot was pounced on by Stones made it 2-2.

Arsenal also failed to secure their comeback. The duel against Manchester City ended in a 2-2 draw.