IT doesn’t get any bigger in the Premier League as champions Manchester City host their title challengers Arsenal in a massive clash – and it has been nothing short of thrilling!
Erling Haaland had initially put the host in front with his 100th City strike.
But Riccardo Calafiori’s sublime strike has levelled the scoring.
- Stream/TV: Sky Sports Premier League
- Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo, Savinho, Doku; Haaland
- Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Trossard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
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Man City 1-1 Arsenal
35. Arsenal are awarded a free kick and Doku seemingly stands over it to prevent a quick one being taken.
The Gunners’ fans are fuming that he is not shown a yellow card after what happened to Declan Rice the other week.
Man City win the ball back and look to break with Savinho but Trossard is penalised for pulling him back and shown a yellow card for his troubles.
Man City 1-1 Arsenal
33. Walker felt for the Arsenal goal that the referee had pulled him out of position to speak to him and not allowed him to get back.
It certainly left a big hole for Martinelli to capitalise upon.
Man City are struggling to link-up in their attacks now, too many stray passes.
Man City 1-1 Arsenal
31. Man City have certainly looked the better team so far but the scoreline no longer reflects that.
Arsenal meanwhile, can now revert to their initial tactics of trying to keep things tight and frustrate the hosts.
That said, they cannot go back into their shell and need to keep creating opportunities in the final third.
Man City 1-1 Arsenal
29. Calafiori certainly won’t forget his Arsenal debut in a hurry.
It is not often you see a defender with ‘goal-a-game’ stats.
This is exactly what The Gunners needed to do and ask some real questions of this Man City side.
Credit: Reuters Man City 1-1 Arsenal
27. Man City have gone from cloud-nine to a nightmare scenario.
Having been pegged back by Arsenal, they have also lost the influential Rodri to a nasty injury.
They need to regroup now and try to find another goal.
Man City 1-1 Arsenal
25. Pep Guardiola is raging with that goal.
He walks over to his seat on the bench and kicks it with some venom.
Man City feel that the free kick was not taken from the correct place.
Man City 1-1 Arsenal
23. Well we really have a game on our hands now.
Arsenal take a quick free kick and Martinelli lays it off to Calafiori outside the box who strikes it first-time.
His shot is curling away from Ederson and clips the inside of the post as it goes in.
Goal – Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal)
Man City 1-0 Arsenal
21. Rodri is limping off the pitch and will not be able to continue.
That means that we will see Kovacic come on to replace him.
As the corner comes in, the visitors manage to head it clear at the near post.
Man City 1-0 Arsenal
19. Rodri’s leg looked to give way under him there.
Everyone will be hoping that is not something serious but he does look in considerable pain.
It is his first start of the season, however if this is a bad injury, he may get that rest he feels footballers need.
Credit: Getty Man City 1-0 Arsenal
17. Man City look to take a short corner but play is stopped as Rodri is rolling around on the floor in the penalty area.
The replay shows that Partey was running with him but there was no foul from the Arsenal man.
Despite that, Rodri seems to be in some serious trouble.
Man City 1-0 Arsenal
15. Gundogan steps up and strikes the free kick.
It comes thundering back off the woodwork with Raya beaten.
Arsenal are in danger of sinking without a trace here if they are not careful.
Man City 1-0 Arsenal
13. For the neutral, that goal should open this game up more.
Man City do not need to change anything but if Arsenal commit more players forward, there will be space to exploit.
The hosts are awarded a free kick for a challenge on Savinho.
Man City 1-0 Arsenal
11. That goal may change any tactics Arteta had for his team.
They now need to chase this game.
Man City will look to turn the screw and put the visitors under constant pressure.
Man City 1-0 Arsenal
9. It is the worst possible start for The Gunners.
Gabriel allows Haaland to get away from him and the ball is played into the Norwegian’s path.
He tucks it past Raya and the Etihad Stadium erupts.
Noel Gallagher seems pleased with that one.
Credit: AFP
Goal – Erling Haaland (Man City)
Man City 0-0 Arsenal
7. Man City are still trying to find their groove in this game.
The Gunners are looking to press whenever they have the ball.
Silva plays the ball into Gundogan, who controls it well, but his volley is wide of the target.
Early chance for the German.
Man City 0-0 Arsenal
5. It has been a feisty start to the game.
Arsenal are flying into the challenges on their opponents.
Maybe Arteta feels a more physical approach will unsettle Pep Guardiola’s side.
Man City 0-0 Arsenal
3. Fortunately for the visitors, VAR decides there is nothing doing.
That will make for an interesting clash between the pair for the remainder of the game now.
The Gunners look to pass the ball around, deep in their own half.
Man City 0-0 Arsenal
1. Just as the game kicks-off Rodri ends in a heap on the floor.
Havertz seems to charge into the Spaniard.
Rodri is holding his face, suggesting there was an arm to his face.
Kick-off: Man City vs Arsenal
We are underway at the Etihad Stadium.
It is a packed-house for this huge match.
Man City get the game started.
Attack is the best form of defence
If Arsenal want to stand any chance of getting a result in Manchester today, they need to offer more of an attacking threat.
Last season when the two sides met here, Ederson had very little to do during the entire game.
The Gunners will need to be able to go through the transition from defence to attack well to put Man City under some pressure.
Norway he feels any pressure
Erling Haaland failed to have a single shot on target against Arsenal over their two matches last season.
He will feel he has a point to prove against The Gunners this afternoon.
The Man City striker has hit the ground running so far this season, bagging two hat-tricks in the process and will be looking for more of the same today.
Credit: Reuters Always the bridesmaid, never the bride
Arsenal have finished runners-up to Man City in the last two seasons.
The owners have backed Mikel Arteta in the transfer market and will be expecting to see improvement from the team.
That starts today with The Gunners needing to show that they are capable of beating Pep Guardiola’s side and not just containing them.
Legends line up for big game
There are some players at the Etihad Stadium doing their pundit work who brought some great memories to both these clubs.
Robert Pires, Samir Nasri and Kolo Toure had great success in their careers, with the latter two playing in both Manchester and North London.
Today they are giving expert knowledge to viewers on Canal Plus for this mouthwatering game.
Credit: Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
