Wenslus Murape
MANCHESTER. – After a 97-minute exhibition of why Arsenal might be the next Premier League champions, came the 98th-minute reason why Manchester City have won the last four.
On an afternoon of extraordinary drama at the Etihad, John Stones poked a last-gasp equaliser to break the resistance of 10-man Arsenal and extend City’s unbeaten home run to 48 matches.
After Erling Haaland had fired City into an early lead with his 100th goal for the club, Gunners left-back Riccardo Calafiori marked his full debut with a belting equaliser.
Then in an extraordinary spell of first-half injury-time, Gabriel nodded the eventual winner before Leandro Trossard was sent off, earning a second booking for delaying the restart at a free-kick.
Arsenal staged a remarkable rearguard effort, including a string of saves from David Raya, to keep City locked out until Stones struck in the dying seconds to send City top.
With Kevin De Bruyne and Martin Odegaard both ruled out by injury, with both clubs having been held to goalless Champions League draws in midweek and with last season’s corresponding clash a dismal 0-0, few of us were expecting an all-you-can eat goals buffet.
Yet Haaland, one shy of his century, began with an appetite for destruction.
The Norwegian, employing what the kids call ‘Beast Mode’, had already clattered into William Saliba, before his landmark goal arrived.
Savinho turned his man,surged forward, split Saliba and Gabriel Margalhaes with a rapier pass and Haaland sprinted ahead to slot home, first time with his left boot.
For a while, City threatened to run riot. Ilkay Gundogan chipped the ball up for himself but sliced his shot wide, then the German bent a free-kick around the wall, smacking the outside of the post. – The Sun
Online Reporter