Stones strikes at the death as City break Arsenal hearts

John Stones scored a 98th minute equaliser as Manchester City rescued a 2-2 draw against 10-man Arsenal at Etihad Studium, preserving their unbeaten home Premier League run to a remarkable 33 matches.

The most pivotal fixture in present-day English football requires its most decisive players to step up, and who better than Erling Haaland to break the deadlock inside 10 minutes.

Savinho showed great poise and control to come inside and slide it through ro the Norwegian, who had the pace to beat Gabriel Magalháes and slide ingeniously inside David Raya’s near post. That was Haaland’s landmark 100th goal for the club, and was nearly added to moments later as Ikay Gündoğan struck the near post with a clipped free-kick.

Arsenal immediately hit back as Gabriel Martinelli laid it back to Riccardo Calafiori, who marked his first start for the club with a stunning left-footed curler which drifted away from Ederson’s reach. The visitors looked extremely dangerous from there, and they eventually took the lead when Gabriel stormed past Kyle Walker to meet and nod in Bukayo Saka’s deep corner from point-blank range.

However, Arsenal’s spirits were dampened significantly on the stroke of half time when Leondro Trossard was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. That sent City on the rampage following the restart, and they utterly dominated possession while peppering Raya’s goal with attempts. The Spaniard was on top form to get down and stop Haaland’s towering close-range header, before getting well behind a powerful Joško Gvardiol strike.

Another effort from the Croatian was palmed away from the near post by Raya, but it was ultimately in vain as Stones pounced on the rebound from Mateo Kovačić shot and salvaged a draw in dramatic circumstances at the death.

Pep Guadiola would certainly have hoped for more considering his side had a man advantage for the entirety of the second half, but they nevertheless stayed in top spot and kept hold of their lengthy home run without defeat. Arsenal will have to put their bitter disappointment as letting the lead slip behind them, with 33 matches still remaining to attempt to overthrow City’s, four-year grip on the title.