‘Erling Haaland obtained his Man City milestone – however Arteta continues to be chasing his’
Erling Haaland got the milestone he wanted.
While Mikel Arteta was denied the chance to lose the footballing millstone still hanging around his neck. On an evening of utter madness and mayhem in Manchester, Arteta’s Arsenal came within seconds of winning at the Etihad for the first time.
Despite having to come from behind and have 10 men for the entire second half, after Leandro Trossard got sent off for two bookings. But substitute John Stones scrambled home an equaliser eight minutes into added time, to deny Arsenal a famous win.
Read More:Erling Haaland accomplishes ‘mind boggling’ achievement with early strike against Arsenal
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(Image: Getty Images)
Haaland‘s 100th City goal in just 105 games had given the champions the perfect start. Then it all went wrong for Guardiola, who saw Arsenal hit back through Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel, while pivotal midfielder Rodri limped off with a serious looking knee problem.
This had promised to be high-octane – and it didn’t disappoint. These two have gone head-to-head for the title in the last two seasons, and no-one expected anything different this time round.
City could open up a five point gap over Arsenal at the top, while Arteta’s men had the chance to go top of the table themselves. The stakes were high – and so were the tempers of both teams and managers. Kai Havertz flattened Rodri within three seconds of the kick off, leaving him prone on the ground.
(Image: Getty Images)
Haaland returned the favour, hammering into William Saliba to raise the pulses even more. When the football started it was quite good. And City should have drawn first blood when Ilkay Gundogan took a pass from Bernardo Silva, waltzed around Gabriel but with just David Raya to beat, somehow volleyed off target.
But there was no such escape for the visitors minutes later when Haaland got the goal in his sights. Savinho cut inside before setting Haaland charging clear of Gabriel, leaving him for dead before beating Raya with a clinical finish to celebrate his century in style.
Haaland versus Gabriel and Wiliam Saliba had felt like the unstoppable force taking on the immovable objects. But inside nine minutes, Haaland had reduced the strongest centre back pairing in Europe to rubble. Gundogan then rattled a free kick against the post, and Arsenal were in danger of being overwhelmed.
(Image: Getty Images)
Then Rodri collided with Thomas Partey in the box, fell over clutching his knee and limped off off in tears. City lost their way and Arsenal came roaring back to go ahead before the break. Calafiori levelled from a quick free kick which caught Kyle Walker napping cos he’d been summoned to speak to referee Anthony Taylor along with rival captain Bukayo Saka.
It sparked a row between Walker and Guardiola, which ended with the Spaniard kicking his seat in anger. Oliver wanted both teams to cam down. Fat chance.
Guardiola’s mood went from bad to worse on the stroke of half time, when Gabriel lost his marker Walker, before heading Saka’s corner past Ederson to put the visitors ahead. Then Trossard got his marching orders for kicking the ball away and the game was ruined as a contest.
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
City laid siege to Arsenal’s goal, but Arsenal reused to buckle.Raya produced two fine stops to deny Josko Gvardiol, and as the clocked ticked down City looked to be losing their first home game since November 2022.
Until Stones rode to the rescue, to give the clash the crazy ending it deserved.
