Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal: Premier League - live reaction

4h ago 13.59 EDT John Stones' reaction You’re obviously frustrated when you don’t get to start in these big games. I tried to channel it and have a positive attitude if I came on. I tried to be inside the box for more crosses, and one dropped for me. The manager wanted me to play closer to Erling to try to win a few aerial duels. It’s so interchangeable – everyone plays in pockets and our movement is so fluid. Luckily it feel for me and I’m really pleased to score a goal like that. It was a difficult afternoon. Both teams showed a side of football that not many teams use – slow it down, get the keeper to go down so you can get instructions on. We have to stay calm and I think we did. There were some silly decisions from everyone but it’s hard to digest it so soon after the final whistle. I wouldn’t say Arsenal have mastered the dark arts. They’ve done it for a few years and we know to expect that. You can call it dirty or clever. They break up the game which upsets the rhythm when you’re trying to get momentum. I thought we dealt with it really well. For the past few years we’ve had a rivalry [with Arsenal] that’s been growing, and which we want to always come out on top in, so to sit here with a point is difficult. "It was a good battle today!" ⚔️

John Stones reacts after scoring a DRAMATIC 98th minute equiliser against Arsenal! 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/qyai55mKA4 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024 Share Updated at 14.04 EDT

5h ago 13.54 EDT The second half stats Shots 28-1

Passes in opposition half 363-35

Possession percentage 88-12 Share

5h ago 13.50 EDT We’ll keep the blog running for a bit, mainly to hear Mikel Arteta’s interview. If Newcastle last season was desgracia, goodness knows what he’ll make of this. (From memory the only clearly incorrect decision was to let Doku off when he kicked the ball away, but as a neutral I would say that.) Share

5h ago 13.44 EDT On Sky Sports, Roy Keane is now kicking off with Micah Richards. He spent about 90 seconds praising Gabriel and William Saliba, at which point Keane snapped: “They still conceded two goals.” "Gabriel and Saliba were UNBELIEVABLE... just REMARKABLE"

"Arsenal have done well, but City were REALLY POOR!!"

Micah Richards and Roy Keane in disagreement over the outcome of Manchester City's draw with Arsenal 💬 pic.twitter.com/irDcs2zpm4 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024 Share Updated at 13.59 EDT

5h ago 13.42 EDT Arsenal will be unhappy that Stones scored in the eighth of seven added minutes, though it’s fairly common for extra time to be added on. That said, their defensive performance in the second half was so impressive. Jack Grealish deserves a lot of credit, because he beat White on the outside to win the corner that led to the goal, then took it very quickly. City were bizarrely reluctant to go at people in wide positions. Share Updated at 13.44 EDT

5h ago 13.39 EDT Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta embrace at the final whistle. But that’s about the only bit of warmth between the teams. Pep is now giving the fourth official a mouthful, Erling Haaland and Gabriel Jesus look like they’re about to kick off. Share

5h ago 13.38 EDT Full time: Man City 2-2 Arsenal I think we can now say Man City v Arsenal is a proper rivalry. View image in fullscreen Myles Lewis-Skelly has seemingly taken leave of his senses as he clashes with Erling Haaland at full-time. Photograph: Molly Darlington/Reuters Share Updated at 13.48 EDT

5h ago 13.38 EDT 90+10 min Right, first things first: the goal has been given. Arsenal kicked off, in the football sense, at which point Haaland ran straight into somebody and flattened them. He’s booked. This is exhilaratingly weird. Share Updated at 13.43 EDT

5h ago 13.37 EDT This rivalry, which was very respectful until now, has completely exploded. Share

5h ago 13.36 EDT VAR check! For multiple offsides. Meanwhile, it’s kicking off on the pitch! Share

5h ago 13.36 EDT Grealish did really well, running Ben White to win a corner which he then took quickly. It was given back to Grealish, who poked it back to Kovacic on the edge of the area. His shot was desperately blocked, either by Raya or a defender, and Stones forced the loose ball through the diving Raya and into the roof of the net. Apparently it kicked off between the benches after the goal as well. "CITY ARE OUT OF JAIL!" 🤯

John Stones gets Manchester City's equaliser with mere seconds left to play! 💥 pic.twitter.com/owIr7jjkJn — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024 Share Updated at 13.47 EDT

5h ago 13.35 EDT 90+7 min A short backheader almost falls for Havertz, who seems to follow through into Ederson. No matter, Ederson didn’t make anything of it and City are attacking again. Share

5h ago 13.34 EDT 90+6 min Bernardo’s slightly tame corner is claimed superbly by Raya, who is congratulated by like a goalscorer. He has looked so assured today. Share

5h ago 13.34 EDT 90+6 min Gabriel Jesus is booked for stopping City from taking a corner, although he didn’t know much about it because he was on all fours. Share

5h ago 13.31 EDT 90+4 min City have had 24 shots in the second half. I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you how many Arsenal have had. Share

5h ago 13.30 EDT 90+3 min Haaland heads straight at Raya from 12 yards. City look broken. Share

5h ago 13.29 EDT 90+2 min: Arsenal substitution Jurrien Timber, who was outstanding, is replaced by the 17-year-old Miles Lewis-Skelly. For his debut. Share

5h ago 13.29 EDT 90+1 min “Arsenal are demonstrating… I think the word ends in ‘housery’,” says Gary Neville. Share

5h ago 13.28 EDT 90+1 min Bernardo Silva is booked for dissent. Share

5h ago 13.28 EDT 90 min Timber goes down with cramp. Raya tries to kick the ball out and doesn’t reach touch, and now the Arsenal physio has run on the field! There will be seven minutes of added time, at least. Share

5h ago 13.27 EDT 89 min A decent shot from Dias is blocked, then Haaland can only force a tame shot through to Raya. He was under all sorts of pressure from Arsenal’s back 17. View image in fullscreen Tony Adams is out there, too. (we think) Photograph: Ben Radford/Getty Images Share Updated at 13.32 EDT

5h ago 13.25 EDT 87 min: Very good save by Raya! After a bit of head tennis in the Arsenal area, Gvardiol cracks an excellent first-time volley from the edge of the area. Raya gets down so smartly to his right to push it away. Share

5h ago 13.24 EDT 85 min Bernardo Silva slaloms infield and tees up Dias, who smashes miles over the bar from 25 yards. He came out for the second half labouring under the misapprehension that his name is Arie Haan. Martinelli was down, apparently with cramp, but Michael Oliver thought he was trying it on and allowed play to continue. Share

5h ago 13.22 EDT 84 min Raya charges off his line to claim Akanji’s cross with ease. City don’t look like scoring; they haven’t created anything of note since the 62nd minute. Share

5h ago 13.20 EDT 83 min Arsenal will go top if they hold on, which would give the victory even greater symbolism. City’s last defeat at home was against Brentford in November 2022. Rice is booked for timewasting. Share

5h ago 13.19 EDT 81 min Dias tries a quick pass into the area for Kovacic, but there’s no eye in the Arsenal needle. There isn’t even a needle. It’s surprising how little City have tried to get round the back in wide positions. They just keep passing it back and forth before someone blooters over the bar from 25 yards. That said, Arsenal’s defending has been outstanding: the determination, the concentration, the whole shebang. View image in fullscreen You shall not pass etc etc. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images Share Updated at 13.25 EDT

5h ago 13.17 EDT 79 min Now Kovacic swishes over the bar from 25 yards. What are City up to? That’s their 14th shot from outside the box in the second half alone. Share Updated at 13.17 EDT

5h ago 13.16 EDT 79 min: Double substitution for City John Stones and Jack Grealish replace Kyle Walker and Savinho. That may mean a switch to 3-2-2-3 with Stones in midfield alongside Kovacic. Share Updated at 13.17 EDT

5h ago 13.16 EDT 78 min Gundogan feeds a pass into Haaland, who has just enough space to turn and rifle a drive from 15 yards that is blocked. Moments later, Foden slithers into the area and shoots high and wide from a tight angle. They’ve picked some poor options in the second half. Share

5h ago 13.14 EDT 76 min Another long-range from Dias is easily saved by Raya. Not really sure what that’s all about. City’s defenders – only the defenders – have had at least six long-range shots in the second half. Share

5h ago 13.14 EDT 76 min “If Arsenal do go on to win this,” begins Eagle Brosi, “Arteta should walk into the press conference and call himself ‘The Special One.’” Or stroll into it wearing an Inter Milan 2009-10 away kit. Share

5h ago 13.12 EDT 75 min All of a sudden Arsenal find themselves 15 minutes away from a famous victory. In the circumstances they have managed this second half extremely well. Share

5h ago 13.10 EDT 73 min Calafiori goes down. The home fans think he’s wasting time but Jakub Kiwior is getting ready to replace him. View image in fullscreen Riccardo Calafiori goes down with an injury as time tick by for Manchester City. Photograph: Molly Darlington/Reuters Share Updated at 13.14 EDT

5h ago 13.10 EDT 72 min Another long-range from Dias takes a deflection – that must be what City are playing for – but bounces gently through to Raya. Share

5h ago 13.09 EDT 72 min “Myles Lewis-Skelly has now got more yellow cards than minutes in the Prem, which is a statistic anyone should be proud of,” says Matthew Richman. That’s going in The Knowledge this week. View image in fullscreen Myles Lewis-Skelly: zero starts, one yellow card. Photograph: Molly Darlington/Reuters Share Updated at 13.11 EDT

5h ago 13.08 EDT 71 min Arsenal send everyone forward for the free-kick, which almost leads to a chance for Calafiori. His touch is too heavy but City can’t take advantage and break while Arsenal are short at the back. Share Updated at 13.09 EDT

5h ago 13.08 EDT 70 min Dias commits a silly foul on Havertz, which allows Arsenal to waste 45 seconds in the City half. Share

5h ago 13.07 EDT 69 min: Man City substitution Now Savinho whistles a shot over the bar from 25 yards. Before the goalkick is taken, Phil Foden replaces Jeremy Doku. I’m surprised we haven’t seen Rico Lewis come on for one of the back four. What do I know? Share Updated at 13.07 EDT

5h ago 13.05 EDT 67 min Timber, who has had an extremely good game, makes a risky but ultimately good sliding tackle on Doku just inside the penalty area. Michael Oliver points to the ball, and on we go. City, for all their pressure, have only drawn one really difficult save from David Raya since half-time. Share

5h ago 13.04 EDT 66 min “A referee doing their job properly is making the best calls possible based on what is seen in the moment,” says Eric Peterson. “Period. I’m not so naive to think this hasn’t always been a part of the game, but I am frustrated at how far we’ve come with players treating a first caution as a commodity, a free hit, a mulligan, rather than the warning it’s meant to be. If a player is going to manage how they play the game in this manner, then they have to be prepared to be an adult and accept the risks, including the consequences of that strategy backfiring on them.” That ship sailed a long time ago, sadly. Share

5h ago 13.03 EDT 64 min City’s bench options include Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis. No sign of any of them coming on just yet. Meanwhile, David Raya has decided to have a sit down, which allows both managers to give an impromptu team talk. How do you prove he’s cheating? While Raya receives treatment, Michael Oliver books one of the Arsenal substitutes, possibly Myles Lewis-Skelly. Share

5h ago 13.01 EDT 63 min At time Arsenal’s shape is closer to 6-3-0, with Martinelli as the left-back as Calafiori as a fourth centre-half. One thing’s for sure: Erling Haaland won’t be charging through any gaps like he did for the opening goal. Share

Click here to read article