Stones’ last winner devastated Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Manchester City left it late to rescue a dramatic equaliser in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Eithad Stadium.
The Gunners thought they had done enough to seal their first win in the blue half of Manchester since January 2015 but John Stones prodded home a 97th minute equaliser to deny them top spot.
Erling Haaland gave the hosts the lead after nine minutes but goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes put the Gunners in front before the break.
Leandro Trossard was sent off at the end of a chaotic first-half, shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away and delaying the restart.
In a tense second half where Arsenal’s brilliant defence stood strong, City finally broke the door down to haul back the side that pushed them all the way last season.
After being shut out by Inter Milan midweek, Haaland was back on the scoresheet with his 100th goal in his 105th game in City blue.
Fed through by Savinho’s excellent through ball, the Norwegian stared down David Raya in goal before coolly toe-poking the ball past the Gunners shot stopper.
Gabriel thought he had delivered another winner (Picture: Getty Images)
City’s joy was replaced by concern after 16 minutes with Rodri forced off with what looked to be a serious knee injury. The Spain international jarred his right knee horribly inside his own box and was seen fighting back tears as he received treatment on the pitch before limping off.
Calalfiori’s wonderful strike on his full debut after 22 minutes levelled things for Arsenal with Pep Guardiola booting his chair in the dugout in frustration.
His misery was compounded just before the break when Gabriel, just as he did in last week’s north London derby against Tottenham, rose to slam home a commanding header from Bukayo Saka’s cross.
Declan Rice was back in the Arsenal midfield having missed that derby win, shown a red card for delaying the restart against Brighton before the international break.
Haaland netted his 100th City goal (Picture: Getty)
Trossard was guilty of the same infraction deep into injury time, booting the ball away after referee Michael Oliver had already blown the whistle for his foul on Bernardo Silva.
With a lead to hold onto, Arsenal were content with sitting back with Saka making way for Ben White at the start of the second-half.
City predictably dominated the ball but efforts from Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol, well saved by Raya, were the best they could muster as Arsenal’s dark arts frustrated the home side.
A resolute Gunners backline almost held on until the end. Jack Grealish’s short corner found itself to Matteo Kovacic whose shot was charged down, breaking kindly to substitute Stones who converted from close range to keep City top of the pile.
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