Late Equaliser Saves Manchester City in Controversial Match Against Arsenal

Manchester City scraped a 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday, thanks to a last-minute equaliser by John Stones. This came after a controversial red card for Leandro Trossard that left Arsenal with 10 men throughout the second half. Etihad Stadium was awash with tension as last season's Premier League top two competitors battled it out. Erling Haaland achieved an outstanding milestone by scoring his 100th goal for City, providing an early lead. However, Arsenal retaliated assertively, with Riccardo Calafiori marking his league debut with an outstanding strike, and Gabriel Magalhães further buoying spirits with a goal off Bukayo Saka's corner. 

Trossard's expulsion for a second yellow-card offence sparked controversy and outrage, notably from Gunner’s boss Mikel Arteta. As a result, City had Arsenal pinned to the edge of their box for the entirety of the second half, but a lose seemed inevitable until Stones scored a close-range goal after a short corner scramble. 

Indiscipline by Arsenal or inconsistencies in refereeing is a question raised, as Arsenal has lost a player to a second yellow card for time-wasting again. This issue also highlights a larger problem with Arsenal's disciplinary record. However, Arteta’s newly added steel in his team was evident in this match, arguably showing a new, tougher face of the Arsenal side.