John Stones Earns Man City Dramatic Equaliser Against Arsenal

• Gunners rue Leandro Trossard’s red card in 2-2 draw

  

Super substitute and England international, John Stones saved Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City some blushes as they earned a point deep in stoppage-time after banging on the door throughout the second half against 10-man Arsenal in their Sunday’s Premiership showdown.

The Cityzens earned the draw in dramatic circumstances as the Three Lions defender’s stoppage-time equalizer saw this early-season title showdown ending in a pulsating 2-2 draw.

However, it was a devastating result for Manager Mikel Arteta and his Gunners, no thanks to Leandro Trossard’s red card that eventually proved costly as colossal Gabriel Magalhaes and Company’s rearguard lost concentration at the death.

Stones’ goal eight minutes into stoppage time denied the 10 men a famous victory at the Etihad Stadium and ultimately broke the hearts of Arsenal, who had played the entire second half with 10 men following Trossard being sent off seconds before the interval.

The Champion got off to a dream start when Erling Haaland raced clear to score inside 10 minutes, after latching onto a Savinho through-ball to prod home a first-time finish for his 100th goal for the English champions in just 105 appearances.

An injury to Rodri, however, turned the game on its head, as Arsenal responded well to equalize shortly after the Ballon d’Or contender was forced to exit the match with a knee injury. It was Riccardo Calafiori who marked his first Arsenal start with a sensational curling effort from 20 yards to even matters.

Thereafter, the visitors grew in confidence and got themselves a lead just before the break when Gabriel Magalhaes rose highest to head home Bukayo Saka’s corner. But the first-half drama wasn’t over as Leandro Trossard, who had been booked earlier, was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away after giving away a free-kick.

Arsenal’s 10 men defended valiantly after the interval and looked to have secured a famous win that would have moved them atop the Premier League, but in the eighth minute of stoppage time, a scramble in the box fell to Stones who forced the ball over the line to earn the champions a point.

Indeed, much of the second 45 minutes were played almost entirely on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area, and while David Raya saved from Kyle Walker, Haaland and Josko Gvardiol. Fortunately, City eventually found a way through in the 98th minute as Stones prodded home after a Jack Grealish cross bounced around the penalty area.