Manchester City dramatically held Arsenal to a draw in the fifth week of the 2024/2025 Premier League at the Etihad Stadium, Sunday (22/09/2024).
Initially, the duel was exciting because both teams attacked each other. However, after Leandro Trossard was sent off, Arsenal withstood Manchester City’s attacks.
Manchester City’s goals were scored by Erling Haaland and John Stones. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s goals were presented by Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes.
This result makes Man City collect 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.
This duel immediately opened with high tension. Just a few seconds after kickoff, Kai Havertz hit Rodri until he fell and the match was stopped for a few minutes.
But after that City was able to score a goal. In the ninth minute, Savio successfully escaped from Calafiori’s guard and then gave a through ball to Erling Haaland. Haaland easily poked the ball with his left foot to break through David Raya’s goal. 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. Calafiori made up for his mistake. With a kick 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. 1-1!
After a fierce fight, a good chance finally came 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 bounced 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 headed by Gabriel Magalhaes again, after escaping Kyle Walker’s guard. 1-2!
But after that Arsenal were furious. Because in the 45+8 minute Leandro Trossard violated Bernardo Silva and finally got a second yellow card. He had to take a shower early.
After that, the first half 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 getting 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. Raya was able to block the ball but was then hit by Silva’s shot. However, the ball bounced off target.
In the 61st minute, City threatened with Gvardiol’s shot from inside the penalty box. However, Raya was still able to block his left-footed shot.
City 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, Arsenal threatened with Gvardiol’s shot again. He fired a volley from inside the penalty box. However, the ball that headed to the bottom right side of the goal was cleverly blocked by Raya.
The referee gave seven minutes of additional time. Manchester City 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 kick. The rebound from the shot was hit by Stones. 2-2!
Arsenal also failed to secure their comeback. The duel against Manchester City ended in a 2-2 draw.
