Arsenal versus Manchester City, a 2-2 draw match on the 22nd of September, 2024, at the Emirates has to go down as one of the games of the season because it had everything red card tenacity and late drama. When Leandro Trossard was dismissed shortly before the break and all of a sudden Arsenal were 45 minutes away, it appeared as though this was going to be the latest instance of the house of cards crumbling in on itself. But not today, not in this game. The Gunners defied it.
Early Lead by Manchester City
The showdown was ignited, with Manchester City going down through a familiar face, that of Erling Haaland. The Norweigan striker found his way in the ninth minute, thus netting his 100th goal for the club in just 105 appearances. A very early strike for him seemed to show the City domination ahead.
Arsenal’s Quick Response
It was Arsenal, however, who responded quickly. Riccardo Calafiori on his Premier League debut hammered home a stunning equalizer from outside the box in the 22nd minute to stun the home crowd and breathe fresh life into Arsenal’s attack. He scored his 100th goal for the club in just 105 games played.
Drama Unfolds: Arsenal Takes the Lead
Not until Gabriel scored a minute into stoppage time to put them 2-1 up had Arsenal effectively turned the game around. But it quickly got a whole lot worse for the Gunners, Trossard picking up a red card, his second yellow for time-wasting at the restart, leaving his side to play out the rest of the 90 minutes with only 10 against the reigning champions.
City’s Onslaught and Arsenal’s Resilience
The hosts’ rearguard held out as City piled forward, throwing everything at them. David Raya was excellent between the sticks, while the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel had to put in some serious hard graft to repel constant pressure from the hosts.
Late Equalizer and Final Score
That resilience was rewarded for Arsenal as they managed to finish the match with a 2-2 scoreline against City, where the second was netted from a rather scrappy sequence late in the game.
It was a draw that showed Arsenal’s resilience, truly showing that even with their backs against the wall, they can challenge any team— even the Premier League champions- making this one of the most memorable matches this season.
