In a thrilling Premier League matchup, Manchester City managed to salvage a 2-2 draw against Arsenal, thanks to a dramatic late goal from defender John Stones. The match was filled with controversy, as Arsenal’s tactics were called into question by City players and coaches.
Stones, who scored the equalizing goal in the 98th minute, praised Arsenal’s “clever” approach to the game, which involved slowing down the pace and disrupting City’s rhythm. “They know how to break up the game, and it’s something we’ve seen from them before,” Stones said. “You can call it clever or dirty, but they use it to their advantage.”
Bernardo Silva echoed Stones’ sentiments, criticizing Arsenal’s time-wasting tactics, which he believed led to an injury to teammate Rodri in the first half. “From the very first play, we knew what was going to happen,” Silva said. “They sent our player to the ground twice in 10 minutes, and it affected our game.”
Despite the controversy, City manager Pep Guardiola’s tactical adjustments paid off, as Stones was able to score the equalizing goal after being told to abandon his defensive role and play as a forward alongside Erling Haaland. “Pep wanted me to play closer to Erling, get higher up the pitch, and win more aerial duels,” Stones explained.
The draw extended City’s unbeaten home record to 48 games, and put them in sole possession of first place in the Premier League, one point ahead of Liverpool and two ahead of Arsenal after five matches.
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