Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal: John Stones snatches draw as 10-man Gunners denied in furious finale

Updated 22/09/2024 at 18:33 GMT

Ten-man Arsenal were just seconds away from a famous victory at the Etihad Stadium after perfecting the 5-4-0 formation in the second half to frustrate Manchester City. But just as three points loomed, John Stones popped up inside the penalty area to snatch a 2-2 draw for the hosts and spark furious scenes on and off the pitch. City return to the top of the table, with Arsenal two points back.

John Stones celebrates

Image credit: Getty Images

John Stones scored a last-gasp equaliser as Manchester City snatched a 2-2 draw against 10-man Arsenal to return to the Premier League summit.

Goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes cancelled out Erling Haaland’s 100th goal in a City shirt during a frantic opening 45 minutes at the Etihad Stadium.

The Gunners had Leandro Trossard dismissed for a second bookable offence in first-half stoppage time, and the 10 men valiantly held out until the dying moments, when Stones scrambled home to snatch a point.

League Cup

Teenager Nwaneri and Sterling score first Arsenal goals as Bolton are brushed aside

14 hours ago

City went straight onto the attack and took the lead after nine minutes, with Haaland latching onto Savinho’s neat through ball and prodding past David Raya.

Arsenal equalised against the run of play in the 22nd minute. Calafiori marked his full Premier League debut by arrowing a stunning 25-yard strike into the top-left corner, while Gabriel completed the turnaround when he headed home Bukayo Saka’s corner at the far post.

But The Gunners were reduced to 10 men before the break, with Trossard shown a second yellow card after he was deemed to have kicked the ball away.

City dominated the second half as they looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage, but it was not until the eighth minute of stoppage time that they found a way through the stubborn Arsenal defence, with Stones bundling home a dramatic equaliser.

Talking Point – Honours even after Etihad thriller

The Premier League’s two best sides of the past two seasons served up an absolute belter of a clash.

It did not take Haaland long to make his mark on proceedings. City’s No. 9 reached a century of goals in just 105 appearances for the club, and 10 already in the Premier League this season.

But Arsenal responded well to their early setback with two defenders leading the way in attack.

Calafiori’s bolt from the blue made him only the second Gunner to score from outside the box on his Premier League bow.

Gabriel then demonstrated superb grit and determination to turn home the corner supplied by Saka, who became only the second player after Thierry Henry to provide an assist in each of the opening five games of a season.

Trossard’s red card left the visitors with their backs to the wall. Enjoying just 12.5% of possession after the restart - and registering just a single shot to their opponents’ 28 - they had to use every ounce of their mental reserve to thwart Pep Guardiola’s side, who were on the brink of a first home defeat in 48 matches.

Ultimately, though, it was not quite enough as City’s persistence paid dividends, with unlikely hero Stones scoring their latest goal on record in a Premier League match.

Player of the Match – David Raya (Arsenal)

Arsenal's hero at Atalanta in midweek, Raya will not have many busier days at the office than he did here.

The Gunners goalkeeper faced 33 shots overall, and kept out nine of the 11 on target.

His interventions kept City at bay for most of their second-half dominance, and there was little he could have done to have prevented Stones’ equaliser.

Player Ratings

Man City: Ederson 6, Walker 6, Dias 6, Akanji 6, Gvardiol 6, Rodri 5, Gundogan 6, Savinho 7, Silva 7, Doku 6, Haaland 7. Subs: Kovacic 6, Foden 5, Stones 7, Grealish 7.

Arsenal: Raya 8*, Timber 7, Saliba 7, Gabriel 8, Calafiori 7, Saka 6, Partey 7, Rice 6, Martinelli 7, Havertz 6, Trossard 4. Subs: White 6, Kiwior 6, Jesus 5, Lewis-Skelly 5.

Match Highlights

9' GOAL!!! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 ARSENAL (HAALAND): It's that man again! City take the lead! Savinho bursts away from Calafiori on the touchline and plays a well-timed through ball for Haaland, who drives into the space between the two centre-halves and pokes past Raya.

14' OFF THE POST: City are awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, with Savinho and Gundogan standing over the ball. The latter steps up and is very unfortunate to see his curling effort come back off Raya's left upright.

22' GOAL!!! MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 ARSENAL (CALAFIORI): Out of nowhere, The Gunners are level and what a moment for the full Premier League debutant! Arsenal catch City out with a quick free-kick releasing Martinelli down the left flank. He cuts back and tees up Calafiori, whose precise, side-footed, first-time strike flies past Ederson's outstretched left arm, and into his top-left corner. The Etihad Stadium is stunned.

37' CHANCE: Gabriel should do better there! The centre-half drifts to the far post to meet Saka's deep corner, but cannot keep his header on target.

45+1' GOAL!!! MANCHESTER CITY 1-2 ARSENAL (GABRIEL): Arsenal have turned things around and lead at the Etihad! He missed a decent opportunity a few moments ago, but Gabriel makes no mistake this time. The defender makes a powerful run to meet another Saka corner at the far post, and buries his header into the back of the net.

45+8' RED CARD: Arsenal are down to 10 men! Already on a yellow card, Trossard barges into Silva and is then deemed to have kicked the ball away. He protests his innocence, but the referee reaches straight to his pocket to hand the Gunners forward his marching orders.

59' CHANCE: Haaland outjumps Saliba to meet Walker's cross at the far post, but Raya does well to claw his header away, before Silva sends the follow-up over.

90+8' GOAL!!! MANCHESTER CITY 2-2 ARSENAL (STONES): Arsenal cannot hold on as City equalise right at the death! Following a quickly taken corner, Kovacic's shot takes a couple of deflections and eventually drops to Stones, who manages to scramble the ball home. The hosts have surely survived defeat by the skin of their teeth.