It was the big clash of the Premier League, the most anticipated of the last few weeks. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City faced Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. We expected a very tough match between two teams that are once again claiming the final title. But we were hoping for a lot more spectacle than during the last meeting last season where the two teams had delivered a boring tactical battle to death (0-0). For his part, Pep Guardiola bet on an attacking formation with Doku, Haaland, Bernardo Silva at number 10 and Savinho while Mikel Arteta lined up a 4-4-2 with Havertz-Trossard up front and a defense composed of four central defenders: Calafiori, Saliba, Gabriel and Timber.
Enough to allow the team to show solidity and contain the waves of Cityzen wingers. But it took more than that to stop the in-form Erling Haaland. The Norwegian took advantage of some magnificent work from Savinho to go deep and beat Raya with disconcerting simplicity (1-0, 9th). His 100th goal in 105 matches with Manchester City equals Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for precocity at Real Madrid (100 goals in 105 matches also). We then expected to see Manchester City unfold, but everything changed in the 21st minute. On a corner, Rodri injured himself on a support and left his teammates after very long minutes writhing in pain (we fear a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the knee). In the process, Arsenal equalized. The Gunners took advantage of the bad positioning of Kyle Walker, who came to speak to the referee, to launch Martinelli. The latter served Calafiori at the edge of the area who sent a clear shot into Ederson’s top corner (1-1, 22nd).
Stones snatches draw
A sublime goal that brought the two teams back to level and angered Pep Guardiola and Kyle Walker. The latter complained about having been called by the referee (since he is the captain and is the only one who can address him) which allowed Arsenal to play before he completely moved back to his right wing. Coming out of their match, the Mancunian team led by Gündoğan gradually lost the thread of the match and conceded a second goal. This time, by the Gunners’ special. On a good corner taken by Saka, it was Gabriel, again, who rose higher than everyone else to place his header (2-1, 45th + 1) and give his team the advantage.
Before the break, the match changed again with the exclusion of Leandro Trossard, leaving his teammates with 10 men during the second half. Inevitably, after the break, Manchester City monopolized the ball and Arsenal did not see the light of day offensively. The numerous attempts by Pep Guardiola’s men ended up in the stands or in the hands of David Raya, who was immense on his line and who repelled shots from Gvardiol, Haaland and Bernardo Silva. In pain, William Saliba and his ilk repelled the attacks heroically each time. But football is never over and at the last second, on the final corner of the match, Grealish decided to play quickly. He served Kovacic in the middle. His shot was blocked, but came back to the feet of Stones who equalized (2-2, 90th + 10). A logical equalizer for City, but cruel for Arsenal who thought they had their first victory at the Etihad under Guardiola. We will have to wait until next season. In the standings, City remains top after five games.
