I witnessed Erling Haaland's moment of madness vs Arsenal - and it could have been so costly
by Joe Bray · Manchester Evening NewsManchester City preserved their 22-month unbeaten home record with a 98th-minute equaliser against Arsenal in an Etihad epic.
In a contest that threatened to bubble over multiple times, City peppered Arsenal's goal with 24 shots in a one-sided second half after Leandro Trossard's red card just before half-time. And in the end it was the time-wasting of Arsenal that proved to be their downfall with John Stones scoring after 98 minutes to earn a deserved point for the Blues.
Erling Haaland had earlier given City the lead with his 10th goal of the season, and 100th overall in a City shirt. It was a dream start to the afternoon for the frontman but it could have been a nightmare finish despite the joy at the late leveller.
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After 98 gruelling minutes, John Stones sent the Etihad into ecstasy with his equaliser after almost an hour of complete dominance. Haaland's 100th goal for City was meant to make this his afternoon - but Arsenal spoiled the party with two first-half goals and City were rocked.. until Trossard saw red on the stroke of half-time.
City registered 24 shots on goal in the second half against Arsenal's 5-4-0 formation but looked to be heading for a devastating defeat until Stones' intervention. And when the ball hit the back of the net, Haaland was first on scene to collect the ball and rather than return to the centre circle, he threw it square in the face of an Arsenal defender.
Seconds after the restart, Haaland clattered into William Saliba and squared up to Gabriel Magalhaes, before moving his attentions to former City striker Gabriel Jesus at full-time in front of the TV cameras.
He was quiet in the second half with no space to operate, but made his presence felt in the minutes after another memorable moment in this long unbeaten run. Maybe he was lucky not to join Trossard in earning a red card.