Arsenal's hopes of topping the Premier League table were dashed as they conceded a 98th-minute equaliser against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Despite putting up a good show, Aresnal's duo Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz garnered an unwanted record for their name.
Timber and Havertz made history as the first outfield players since Opta records began in the 2003/04 campaign to play 89 minutes or more without completing a single pass to a teammate. Timber attempted six passes, while Havertz tried five, but none found their mark.
Arsenal were forced to defend for the entire second half
In the second half, Arsenal put up a strong defence for 52 minutes after Leandro Trossard received a red card at the end of the first half. Despite City's dominance in possession and play, Arsenal managed to keep them at bay. However, City's substitute John Stones scored an equalizer in the end, leaving Arsenal disappointed but still showing resilience in defence.
The two players showcased strong performances in the northwest, making significant defensive contributions to secure a hard-fought draw for their team. Their dedicated efforts suggest that they will play crucial roles for the Gunners this season as the team aims to clinch the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.
Arsenal's Gaffer's takeaway from the Fixture
Arteta emphasized that his side had a difficult start to the fixture. He believed his team struggled to control certain spaces on the pitch. However, he felt proud of the fighting spirit that his team portrayed in the face of adversity. Arteta expressed his discontent with the refereeing decision and preferred not to comment on the cards received by his players.
He sarcastically asserted that he expected his team to be 9 men on the pitch in most of its league games if his players continued to be booked for similar reasons. He believed if any other team played against Manchester City with 10 men, they would lose most of the time.
“I prefer not to comment [on the red card]. I was already in big trouble trying to solve what happened on the pitch. It’s obvious that it’s not necessary to comment on it. I’m expecting 100 games to be nine vs 10 this season if that’s the case." - Arteta asserted.
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'I prefer not to comment' - Mikel Arteta expresses his discontent with the refereeing decisions
Arsenal's hope of being the table toppers in the early season standings hit a roadblock with their 2-2 draw against Champions Manchester City, however their gaffer felt proud of his team's efforts.
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal's hopes of topping the Premier League table were dashed as they conceded a 98th-minute equaliser against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Despite putting up a good show, Aresnal's duo Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz garnered an unwanted record for their name.
Timber and Havertz made history as the first outfield players since Opta records began in the 2003/04 campaign to play 89 minutes or more without completing a single pass to a teammate. Timber attempted six passes, while Havertz tried five, but none found their mark.
Arsenal were forced to defend for the entire second half
In the second half, Arsenal put up a strong defence for 52 minutes after Leandro Trossard received a red card at the end of the first half. Despite City's dominance in possession and play, Arsenal managed to keep them at bay. However, City's substitute John Stones scored an equalizer in the end, leaving Arsenal disappointed but still showing resilience in defence.
The two players showcased strong performances in the northwest, making significant defensive contributions to secure a hard-fought draw for their team. Their dedicated efforts suggest that they will play crucial roles for the Gunners this season as the team aims to clinch the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.
Arsenal's Gaffer's takeaway from the Fixture
Arteta emphasized that his side had a difficult start to the fixture. He believed his team struggled to control certain spaces on the pitch. However, he felt proud of the fighting spirit that his team portrayed in the face of adversity. Arteta expressed his discontent with the refereeing decision and preferred not to comment on the cards received by his players.
He sarcastically asserted that he expected his team to be 9 men on the pitch in most of its league games if his players continued to be booked for similar reasons. He believed if any other team played against Manchester City with 10 men, they would lose most of the time.
“I prefer not to comment [on the red card]. I was already in big trouble trying to solve what happened on the pitch. It’s obvious that it’s not necessary to comment on it. I’m expecting 100 games to be nine vs 10 this season if that’s the case." - Arteta asserted.