Read more about Guardiola’s fury here.
A summit took place in the Premier League on Sunday. Manchester City and Arsenal, the two teams that many believe will fight for the title, clashed at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
Before the match, Kevin De Bruyne was a big question mark for Manchester City. And when the starting eleven arrived, the break was confirmed as De Bruyne was completely missing from the squad.
– I don’t think it’s a huge injury, but Kevin De Bruyne is not available today, Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports before the match.
For Arsenal, new signing Riccardo Calafiori made his debut in the starting eleven, while Leandro Trossard made a comeback in the eleven. The usual right-back Ben White was benched in favor of Jurrien Timber, who otherwise usually plays left-back.
It only took eight minutes – then a certain Erling Braut Haaland stepped forward.
A butter pass from Savinho led to the Norwegian getting free. And with a classic toe flick, he scored Manchester City’s early 1-0 goal, and his tenth (!) of the season in his fifth game. No player has reached double-digit goals in so few games in a PL season.
– Incredible finish from Erling Haaland. Brilliant run, said Leon Osman in the BBC.
Sky Sports expert Melissa Reddy:
– As evidenced by Haaland’s opening goal, City’s intention to draw Arsenal out on the wings and then hurt them through the space opened up in the middle has worked. Four Arsenal players were taken out of the game when Savinho cut in and passed, she said.
This was the Norwegian’s 100th City shirt. He thus touches Cristiano Ronaldo’s record from the time at Real Madrid, where he only needed 105 games to reach the same number of goals.
Rodri went on a hit and was replaced after just over a quarter of an hour – and shortly after the break came the equaliser.
Arsenal’s new signing Riccardo Calafiori pulled in with the left – and got a dream finish. Ederson lunged, but had no chance as the ball sailed into the far corner.
– Look at that! Superb from Calafiori, said Dan Long in Sky Sports.
Gary Neville:
– We didn’t think we’d get a match like this, but I’m so glad we got it. City are sleeping – but you can’t look away from this game, he said on Sky Sports.
At the same time, Pep Guardiola was pissed off.
– Pep Guardiola was furious after that Arsenal goal. He karate-kicked his own chair in frustration at Manchester City being taken to bed by the quick free-kick. He shouted at fourth official Andy Madley as the Arsenal players celebrated nearby. I suspect he will have something to say about it after the game, said Simon Stone in the BBC.
City’s bridge would become a fact in the closing stages of the first half.
Gabriel got on top of a corner and headed in 2-1 in added time. His second header from a corner in two games in the Premier League.
Jamie Carragher saw the defensive play at the corner.
– Doku and Walker are way too close to Gabriel (to let him score). You know what he’s going to do, he said in Sky.
Gary Neville instead issued a boot to keeper Edison:
– It’s Edison’s ball, he said.
But Arsenal would go on a lead-heavy strike in the closing stages of the first half.
Leandro Trossard went into a duel hard – and received his second yellow card. The Belgian therefore had to leave the field.
– Now it’s Arsenal who can’t believe their eyes, said BBC expert John Murray.
But the second yellow card was harsh, according to some:
– It’s hard in my opinion. Leandro Trossard enters a melee. “He’s dedicated and the ball bounces past him – he’s already set to win the close game,” Leon Osman told the BBC.
Trossard received his first yellow card as a result of kicking the ball away when it was cleared.
– Arsenal supporters will point to Doku and ask themselves why he didn’t get a yellow card when he kicked the ball away when Arsenal were awarded a free kick earlier in the half. Ironically, it was just before Trossard went on his first card, Sky pundit Peter Smith said.
But the yellow card was justified according to others.
– What is Trossard doing?, asked Jamie Carragher in Sky.
An eventful first half, in other words.
– It has really been an entertaining half. There is an incredible amount to talk about, said Leon Osman in the BBC.
The second half did not have as much to offer. Manchester City went for an equalizer and Arsenal “parked the bus”.
The bright blue gang from Manchester had a lot of chances – but the “Gunners” kept away in a formidable manner. This at the same time as the keeper Raya played great.
“It’s the ultimate test of defensive tenacity against the best team in the country,” said Gary Neville on Sky, giving his take on the Arsenal keeper’s effort:
– He has done well in the second half, Raya, continued Neville.
– Arsenal’s concentration must be absolutely maximum, said Jamie Carragher.
But the receipt would come. At the absolute last minute. Seven minutes were added, and in the 98th, substitute John Stones equalized from a corner.
After the goal, a scuffle took place between a group of players, including between Erling Braut Haaland and Gabriel Jesus.
Shared point, then. This despite Arsenal playing with one man less for an entire half and Manchester City’s pressure in the closing stages.
– The two best teams in the country, summed up Gary Neville in Sky.
With the result, Manchester City moves up to first place in the Premier League. Arsenal are fourth.
Manchester City’s substitute scoring hero John Stones after the match:
– I get frustrated when I don’t get to start in these big matches. Before the match I tried to have a positive attitude. Then I came in and tried to be inside the penalty area. The ball steamed down in front of me and I pushed it into the goal, he said on Sky Sports.
He continued:
– It was a good fight, a lot of tackles. Some stupid decisions, but it’s hard to take it all in right now. But we will leave here with one point, it could have been a loss with three.
He went on to give his view on what Arsenal did right:
– They made it difficult for us when they were so far down and had many players around the penalty area. It is something we must look at. In recent years, it has become a rivalry that has grown into itself. A rivalry where we always want to be at the top. But today we came away with a vital point, and we should be proud of that.
Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta was happy with the stick:
– I am so proud of how we played against one of the best teams in the world, he told MOTD 2.
– It was a miracle that we held the lead for so long with ten players on the pitch. What we did was incredible. In 99 games out of 100 you lose to this team if you play with ten men.
What many wondered afterwards was probably how bad Rodri’s injury is.
But Pep Guardiola had few answers.
– I don’t know how serious it is, he says according to Sky Sports.
Startelvor:
Manchester City: Ederson – Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvadriol – Rodri, Gundogan, Savinho, Silva, Doku – Haaland.
Arsenal: Raya – Timber, Saliba, Gabirel, Calafiori – Rice, Partey, Havertz – Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
