Arsenal vs Man City is played on September 22, 2024, in a fantastic Premier League match which turned out to be a thriller with a spectacular draw of 2-2. The much-talked-about match was full of controversy, and discussions about the whole game were much expected and dominated the talk over a red card given to Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard that completely changed the course of play.
Arsenal vs Man city 2-2 Match
From Etihad Stadium, the best match from the intensity and competitiveness of both sides. Arsenal had the confidence right from the starting minute and surged to score over the initial lead of City, but Trossard’s red card on the last minute of the first half further depleted Gunners as they entered into this battle.
Arsenal played, miraculously, with some unbelievable performances that nearly took away a famous win against the champions; they walked out in a draw.
Important Moments of Arsenal vs Man city match
First Half: Manchester City quickly scored off the boots of Erling Haaland. However, Riccardo Calafiori equalized, taking advantage of a quick free-kick and caught City’s defense on the back foot. The most crucial turn of the match occurred when Trossard received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away after a foul, it makes Arsenal have to play with 10 men in the second half.
Second Half: City was able to control the game completely, having put in an astonishing 28 shots on target. Arsenal could only possess the ball for 12.5% of the match, directing their gameplay toward defending and not losing. It paid off until nearly the dying breath when John Stones scored a last-gasp equalizer to deny Arsenal a must-have three points.
Controversies
Accusations of “Dark Arts”
City forward Bernardo Silva was quoted after the match criticizing Arsenal for using “dark arts” to “damage the rhythm of the game.” The “dark arts” is a commonly used phrase describing cheating tactics, including tactical fouling and time-wasting. “There was only one team that came to play football,” Silva commented. This marks a rising trend among players over unsporting behavior in the game.
Referees’ Decisions
The refereeing during the match was highly criticized too:
Trossard’s Red Card: He believed that the red card was hard on the player when it was given, and he questioned its severity. Arteta believed Trossard’s dismissal was very different from the case of City’s Jeremy Doku when he had kicked away the ball in similar circumstances yet had not been punished for that incident.
Stoppage Time Controversy: The match had passed beyond full time due to stoppage time, an aspect to which some complain Arsenal supporters as well as players themselves were not happy. It is during this stoppage time that City players accused Arsenal of using tactics that slowed the game down considerably, thus the stoppage time that ran in excess that helped City score to an equalizer.
Player Reactions
Arsenal’s View
Mikel Arteta praised his team for their grit and determination, especially playing with one less man. He said, “99 out of 100 times if you play 56 minutes against this team with 10 men, you’re going to lose.” That shows the extra effort that has been put into securing the draw by his players.
Response:
John Stones and many others in the City were raising their voices about this frustration. Stones said, “They slow the game down,” in response to Arsenal’s strategy of controlling the flow of the game. According to Silva, the impact was of injuries and judgments of the referee in their performance and game planning.
Tactical Review
Arsenal’s Defensive Tactics
The sending off of Trossard helped Arsenal transform their game into a defending one. They focused their effort on blocking the attacking plays of City while they let free quick counter-attacks work for them. This strategy saw Arsenal for most of the second half resulting in proving their resilience under pressure.
Manchester City’s Attack
The city has strong pressure throughout the game with nice attacking depth. Dominant possession and shots, but they failed to get it into the net until the final minutes of the game. Guardiola said that his players had to cope with situations like that even better, also after the quick equalizer.
FAQs
1. What happened at the end of the game?
The match ended 2-2, with John Stones scoring a late equalizer for Manchester City.
2. Why was Leandro Trossard red carded?
Trossard was handed his second yellow card for kicking the football away after a foul, leaving Arsenal with ten men for the second half of the match.
3. How did it change Arsenal’s strategy?
Arsenal, playing with 10 men, mainly focused on taking the ball out of play to avoid further risk in attempting to create some attacking chances and then counting on counter-attacks.
4. What did the managers say after the match?
Mikel Arteta was proud of his team’s effort and tenacity, especially with one fewer player; Pep Guardiola was furious with the referee’s rulings, which disrupted the rhythm of the game.
5. What are “dark arts” in football?
“Dark arts” refer to the strategies intended to disrupt or impede the flow of a game, often combined with time-wasting or other unsporting actions designed to push at the edges of the rules of the game.
Conclusion
The Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side against the Manchester City was only a typical case of a Premier League drama. Not only was it tense but also filled with excitement. Being able to defend such a strong side like City with 10 men is in itself very commendable for Arsenal in showing their resilience and tactical prowess. Yet, the match obviously really showed the pressing issues of refereeing and tactics within football, and the debates started rife among the players, coaches, and fans as well.
This contest is likely to be one that both teams will reflect on as the season continues, with adjustments being made to their approach. Arsenal will continue to seek discipline whereas Manchester City will attempt to make more of its attacking opportunities. It added to the age-old rivalry between these clubs, and the basis of the future confrontations in the league ensures the fans will not lose interest very soon as the title unfolds.
