RIYAD MAHREZ has fired home a penalty to give Manchester City a controversial equaliser.
In a crazy two minutes of football, Granit Xhaka had a penalty awarded against him after a soft challenge on Bernaro Silva but the Swiss midfielder had hold of his opponent’s shirt.
In the seconds following Mahrez’s equaliser, Arsenal had a header cleared off the line, only for Gabriel to get sent off for a second yellow card after dragging down Gabriel Jesus.
Bukayo Saka had given Arsenal a well-deserved lead in a pulsating clash with Manchester City.
Martin Odegaard was denied an early penalty as City missed two great chances before Kieran Tierney’s ball put Saka through for the goal.
Fourth official Kevin Friend had to be brought in as assistant referee after Constantine Hatzidakis had to drop out at the last minute.
- Kick off time: 12.30pm UK
- TV channel/live stream: BT Sport 1, BT Sport Ultimate and BT Sport app
- Arsenal team: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette.
- Manchester City team: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Ake, Rodri, Silva, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling.
- Phil Foden left out of City squad
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Stay up to date with all the action from the Emirates Stadium in our live blog…
-
Arsenal 1-2 Man City
90+3. That’s why they’re champions!
-
Goal! – Rodri wins it for City!
They’ve done it!
It’s heartbreak for Arsenal!
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
90. Six minutes of additional time are signalled by the fourth official.
It’s not long when you’re chasing a goal, but feels a lifetime when you’re listening to Martin Keown and Steve McManaman.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
89. The ballboys are defending for their lives too.
One refuses to give the ball to Bernardo Silva with the City player keen to get on with the action. He receives a huge cheer from the home fans and a telling off from Stuart Atwell.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
87. Mahrez tries to make space from a tight angle, but his effort is blocked.
Arsenal are defending for their lives here.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – Arsenal sub
85. The third and final change for the hosts. Bukayo Saka goes off to a great reception, and on comes holding midfielder Mohamed Elneny.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
84. “He’s lost control, the referee,” cries Steve McManaman as Stuart Atwell is shown to have got another decision absolutely spot on.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
83. Several Arsenal players look dead on their feet now, barely able to move as City work the ball across the pitch.
Mind you, Xhaka was moving that slowly from the first whistle.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
81. The Arsenal fans are roaring their disapproval again after what they feel is an off-the-ball clash between Laporte and Martinelli.
They feel the City centre-half as caught the Brazilian with an arm to the face, but replays show there’s nothing in it.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
79. A shot from Cancelo!
Don’t get too excited though, it’s not even close to testing Ramsdale.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
78. The possession is all Manchester City’s. The pressure is all Manchester City’s. Yet still there’s not much happening in the final third for the champions.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
76. White sends Saka racing down the right touchline. The England international is clearly offside, but the flag doesn’t go up until he’s sprinted 40 yards in his attempt to get on the end of the pass.
That’s just what you need when you’re holding on against the league leaders with ten men.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
74. City are yet to take this game by the scruff of the neck despite their numerical advantage.
Cancelo and Bernardo both go for goal, but their respective shots are blocked by some committed defending.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – Arsenal sub
71. A second Arsenal change. Emile Smith Rowe has enjoyed a goal off the bench recently but I’m not sure that will be his first responsibility today.
The England international is on for Alexandre Lacazette which is likely to mean Gabriel Martinelli finishes this game as their furthest forward player.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
69. The home fans make their point of view clear as they sing “how much are they paying you?” to referee Stuart Atwell.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – Holding yellow card
68. Rob Holding hasn’t been on long but he joins the growing list of Arsenal players on a booking.
The substitute is harshly cautioned for dragging back De Bruyne in midfield as the Belgian threatened to break away.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – Saka yellow card
66. The Arsenal players are losing their heads here.
Lacazette wins a free-kick for a foul from Rodri, and immediately the home players surround Stuart Atwell to demand a booking.
Saka says too much in the melee, and receives a yellow card.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – City sub
64. A change for Manchester City too.
Gabriel Jesus is booed from the field for his part in Gabriel’s second booking, but there was little the Brazilian forward could have done about the challenge he was on the receiving end of.
On comes Ilkay Gundogan in his place.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – Arsenal sub
63. A readjustment in the Arsenal ranks following the red card.
Defender Rob Holding is on for Martin Odegaard, and he’ll slip into the home side’s backline.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
61. By the way, that Gabriel red card means Arsenal become the first club in Premier League history to reach 100 red cards.
They beat Everton (99) to the century. That should earn them a Champions League spot if nothing else does.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City – Gabriel red card!
59. Arsenal are down to ten men!
Gabriel was booked moments ago for scuffing up the penalty spot at Mahrez prepared to take his kick, and now he’s flattened Gabriel Jesus in the middle of the pitch.
It’s a second yellow card for the Brazilian defender, and he is absolutely furious.
The game has turned around so quickly, and the atmosphere is turning toxic.
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
58. Arsenal almost reclaim the lead immediately!
Ruben Dias heads a bouncing ball over his own goalkeeper Ederson, but somehow Nathan Ake scampers back to slide a clearance off the line.
Nevertheless, Gabriel Martinelli should score from the rebound, but fires wide with an open goal gaping.
Wow!
-
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
57. The league leaders are on level terms!
Riyad Mahrez steps up for the spotkick, and makes no mistake in sending Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way to find the right corner.
The visiting fans celebrate, but their home counterparts are far from happy.
-
Goal – Riyad Mahrez equalises!
55. It’s 1-1 at the Emirates!
-
Arsenal 1-0 Man City – decision overturned!
54. The VAR official Jarred Gillet advises Stuart Atwell to reconsider his decision, and that will mean a Manchester City penalty!
The Arsenal players are furious. Granit Xhaka is booked for his part in proceedings, and his teammate Gabriel soon follows suit for scuffing up the penalty spot as Riyad Mahrez prepares to take.