Stones' late goal earns 10-man Arsenal a draw with Man City.

Post by : Sourav Sehgal

Photo: Reuters

Manchester City and Arsenal played out a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium, with John Stones salvaging a point for the home side deep into stoppage time. The match began with City on the front foot, as they took an early lead just nine minutes in thanks to a composed finish from Erling Haaland. The Blues appeared in control, but a setback came in the 22nd minute when key midfielder Rodrigo was forced off due to injury, disrupting their rhythm.

Arsenal quickly seized the opportunity and turned the tide. They equalized and then grabbed the lead with two goals before halftime. One of the goals came after a controversial VAR review, which ruled that Ederson had been impeded, allowing the Gunners to benefit from the decision. Arsenal's confidence grew, but a significant blow came just before the break when Leandro Trossard, already on a yellow card, was sent off in first-half stoppage time for delaying the game by kicking the ball away.

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Playing the entire second half with 10 men, Arsenal dug in defensively, setting up a resolute wall to protect their 2-1 advantage. The goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel in the first half had put them on the brink of a historic win. Arsenal had not beaten City at the Etihad in a Premier League match since 2015, and a victory here would have sent them to the top of the table, marking a massive statement in the title race.

Despite being a man down, Arsenal came agonizingly close to holding onto their lead. City's relentless pressure, however, eventually paid off in the dying moments of the game. Substitute John Stones found space in a crowded penalty area and fired home to level the score at 2-2 with just seconds remaining on the clock.

The result left Arsenal frustrated, as they were just moments away from securing a crucial victory, while City managed to salvage a point in what had been a tense and explosive encounter.