In a controversial and action-packed Premier League basic on the Etihad Stadium, Manchester Metropolis equalised deep in stoppage time to disclaim Arsenal a well-known win — however that hardly tells the total story of the match.
The sport was full of needle between the 2 title rivals and was completed off with a John Stones objective within the 98th minute.
Erling Haaland acquired his a hundredth objective for Metropolis earlier than a fast free kick (extra on that beneath) from Arsenal led to a Riccardo Calafiori equaliser and Gabriel scored from a set piece once more for Arsenal. Leandro Trossard was then despatched off for a second yellow card, for kicking the ball away, simply earlier than half-time.
With a person benefit, Metropolis dominated the second half however discovered goalkeeper David Raya (who made an unimaginable double save within the midweek Champions League recreation in opposition to Atalanta) in impressed kind earlier than substitute Stones broke Arsenal hearts.
Right here, Sam Lee, James McNicholas, Charlie Scott and Liam Tharme break down the motion.
Is that this now a correct rivalry?
Till just lately, the rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis has been considerably tepid. Maybe due to the friendship between the 2 managers, there has all the time been extra mutual respect than enmity.
There have been indicators on this recreation that could be altering. Inside 14 seconds, Kai Havertz made a press release of intent, barging Rodri to the bottom. If there was a spotlight of Arsenal’s ire, it has been the Spanish worldwide. When Metropolis gained the league final season, he claimed the distinction between the 2 groups was “mentality” — feedback that didn’t go unnoticed at London Colney.
Rodri went off injured early on (Carl Recine/Getty Photographs)
The touchline reactions of Guardiola and Arteta additionally confirmed how determined the 2 former colleagues are to return out on high.
When Calafiori curled dwelling Arsenal’s equaliser, Guardiola stormed again to his dugout and kicked his personal chair. Arteta was equally enraged when Trossard was dismissed.
After a recreation filled with needle, the development is more likely to proceed. The tussle on the high of the Premier League is hotting up.
James McNicholas
Why Walker and Guardiola have been fuming about Arsenal’s equaliser
Calafiori’s good strike introduced Arsenal degree within the twenty second minute however sparked protests from the Metropolis gamers. Right here’s a breakdown of what occurred…
The foul by Ilkay Gundogan on Thomas Partey takes place 10 yards shy of the centre circle…
The referee calls Walker, the Metropolis captain, over from his place at right-back to talk to him and Bukayo Saka, the Arsenal captain. Whereas that is occurring Declan Rice and Partey have moved the ball ahead to close the centre circle.
The referee blows his whistle to permit Thomas Partey, the Arsenal midfielder, to restart play with the free-kick — 10 yards in the direction of the Metropolis objective from the place the foul befell.
Walker has not acquired again into place and he and his Metropolis team-mates are gesturing that they aren’t prepared. In the meantime, Martinelli is in acres of house on Arsenal’s left, the house Walker needs to be defending.
Partey sprays the ball over the top of Walker to Martinelli…
The Brazilian controls the ball after which tees up Calafiori to curve previous Ederson from simply outdoors the penalty space…
The Metropolis gamers and training workers have been fuming. Walker confronted Oliver…
And Guardiola booted his chair within the Metropolis dugout…
Charlie Scott
Was Trossard sending off harsh?
Three weeks after Arsenal had Declan Rice despatched off in opposition to Brighton for delaying the restart, Leandro Trossard suffered the identical destiny on the Etihad.
The Belgian worldwide was first booked for tugging again Savinho — an expert foul that noticed Arsenal provide no complaints.
Then, within the last moments of the primary half, he barged into Bernardo Silva…
The referee blew his whistle, and Trossard then booted the ball up into the air…
He could argue he assumed the whistle marked the tip of the half, because the indicated stoppage time had elapsed. The referee noticed it in any other case, producing a second yellow card and sending Trossard off for delaying the restart.
The directive to cut back gamesmanship and time-wasting is admirable, however a sending off does really feel like unduly harsh punishment — particularly when it has such an infinite impression on the standard of the sport as a spectacle. The second half turned an absurd coaching train of defence vs. Assault.
Equally, Arsenal’s gamers know all too effectively that referees are sizzling on this situation. Trossard ought to have thought twice earlier than kicking the ball away.
Arsenal’s greatest frustration, nonetheless, might be a scarcity of consistency. Within the Brighton recreation, Joao Pedro escaped punishment for a transparent occasion of delaying the restart.
On the Etihad, Jeremy Doku appeared to intentionally knock the ball past Declan Rice through the first half, but was not proven a yellow card…
James McNicholas
How large was a difficulty was lack of Rodri?
Let’s speak largely in regards to the first half right here, as a result of after the crimson card the sport turned barely much less about Rodri, other than his confirmed high quality at hitting lengthy pictures, which is an apparent level to make contemplating what number of alternatives Metropolis needed to shoot from vary (and little else).
So earlier than the crimson card, there was clearly a robust correlation between Rodri going off and Metropolis not taking part in in addition to they have been with him on the pitch/Arsenal getting higher.
There’s a sturdy correlation however it’s unimaginable to deduce causation since you would by no means have anticipated any high crew, particularly Arsenal, to not begin to change the rhythm.
Metropolis had dominated and early on and seemed irresistible when Haaland scored, they usually seemed so much much less certain of themselves after Rodri went off, however with Arsenal’s high quality and risk, it’s simply as straightforward to conclude that they deserve some credit score for a way they responded to going a objective down, whereas noting that, in fact, having Rodri on the pitch would have been a assist to Metropolis general.
Sam Lee
Why couldn’t Metropolis cope with Arsenal’s set items?
Arsenal’s set items have reached unstoppable ranges. Gabriel’s header made it 31 Premier League objectives from corners for the reason that begin of 2022-23. Second-place are Liverpool, with 24. No one can match Mikel Arteta’s facet.
The targets and the deliveries don’t change — Arsenal nearly solely play inswingers from either side, with Gabriel the first goal. A notable tweak in opposition to Metropolis, much like their strategy to corners in opposition to Atalanta within the Champions League in midweek, was overloading the back-post and flooding the six yard-box to stress the goalkeeper.
Metropolis had their warning: initially Jeremy Doku was the blocker on Gabriel, the one two out across the penalty spot, and when he ran onto the primary nook and headed over, Guardiola shortly made a tweak. Kyle Walker took duty the second time, one other nook from the suitable, however he too misplaced observe of Gabriel.
(Michael Regan/Getty Photographs)
The transfer was the identical, similar to the winner within the North London derby final Sunday: a Bukayo Saka inswinger from the suitable, Gabriel header within the six yard-box. That’s solely the eighth nook objective Metropolis have conceded for the reason that begin of 2022-23.
Whereas most groups defend in opposition to Arsenal with a mixture of zonal markers (the higher aerial gamers) and blockers (smaller gamers), Metropolis’s strategy was nearly utterly zonal, however for the marker on Gabriel. Groups are more and more going to extra excessive set-piece defensive schemes in opposition to Arsenal, however they maintain discovering options.
Liam Tharme
What did Pep Guardiola say?
We are going to carry you this after he has spoken on the post-match press convention.
What did Mikel Arteta say?
We are going to carry you this after he has spoken on the post-match press convention.
What subsequent for Manchester Metropolis?
Tuesday, September 24: Watford (H), Carabao Cup, 7.45pm BST, 2.45pm ET
Saturday, September 28: Newcastle United (A), Premier League, 12.30pm BST, 7.30am ET
What subsequent for Arsenal?
Wednesday, September 25: Bolton Wanderers (H), Carabao Cup, 7.45pm BST, 2.45pm ET
Saturday, September 28: Leicester Metropolis (H), Premier League, 3pm BST, 10am ET
Advisable studying
(High picture: Carl Recine/Getty Photographs)
