By The Independent (Sports) | Created at 2024-09-23 22:24:22 | Updated at 2024-09-30 09:24:42
6 days ago
Pep Guardiola on emerging rivalries
He told Sky Sports: “We have created a good rivalry with Arsenal. Before it was with (former Liverpool boss) Jurgen (Klopp) and now it’s there, so it’s a different way.
“We started the game how we started, a little bit delayed after two seconds, and there were many things. They have personality, but we have too.
“Many things happened, but at the end we equalised, which we deserved.”
Pep Guardiola was convinced his side deserved their late equaliser.
Sonia Twigg23 September 2024 06:00
Mikel Arteta on Leandro Trossard’s red card
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was unhappy over Trossard’s second yellow card, but declined to elaborate.
He said: “It’s not my job to come here and judge what happened. My job is to survive in the most difficult environment you can be thrown into in football for 55 minutes and try to get things done to survive. That was my job.
“The rest is out of my job and it is already the second time it has happened in five games, which is really, really worrying if you want to see the best Premier League.”
Sonia Twigg23 September 2024 05:00
No one can doubt Arsenal’s spirit, but questions remain about their credentials
Through that, it actually felt like a Champions League semi-final, and occasionally looked like one, too. Specifically, Jose Mourinho’s Internazionale against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2009-19.
Unlike that famous match, the Catalan this time got the late goal he desperately desired. Manchester City showed their admirable spirit, that has carried this squad through a lot of controversies over the past few years. This game was the very best of the Premier League in purely football terms, even if it was underscored by all manner of modern football issues. The very consequence of the result could be changed by the hearing. City insist upon their innocence. The actual team plays on through it, as Guardiola has instilled them with this relentlessness.
Sonia Twigg23 September 2024 04:00
Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal player ratings
ARSENAL
DAVID RAYA: Just days after his Champions League heroics against Atalanta, produced a string of important saves. 9
JURRIEN TIMBER: Another impressive showing from the defender, who shone at Tottenham last week. 8
WILLIAM SALIBA: Quietly assured throughout, keeping his head during intense pressure. 8
GABRIEL: Looked a little rattled during City’s rapid start but regained his composure, with the set-piece star powering Arsenal ahead from a corner. Defended brilliantly in the second half. 9
RICCARDO CALAFIORI: A difficult afternoon could have been in store after losing Savinho before Haaland’s opener, but he levelled with a stunning strike. The summer signing defended resolutely. 8
THOMAS PARTEY: Positioning slightly off in the first half, irking some Arsenal staff. But kept his cool and helped batten down the hatches. 7
DECLAN RICE: Back after serving a one-game ban, he kept things ticking over in midfield and showed his defensive qualities. 8
BUKAYO SAKA: Arsenal’s skipper for the day, his fine corner brought Gabriel’s goal. Trossard’s sending off saw him withdrawn at the break. 7
GABRIEL MARTINELLI: Provided assist for Calafiori’s exquisite effort and gave Walker a torrid time in the first half. Remained diligent when defence became the order of the day. 7
LEANDRO TROSSARD: One of three changes at the Etihad Stadium, the busy forward was booked for clipping Savinho and sent off for kicking the ball away after barging into Bernardo Silva. 5
KAI HAVERTZ: Not at his attacking best but a solid performer with Arsenal’s backs against the wall. 7
SUBS:
BEN WHITE (for Saka, 46): Brought on to help firm up the backline following Trossard’s sending off, making a back three and helping keep City at bay. 7
JAKUB KIWIOR (for Calafiori, 74): Fresh legs in a backline tested mentally and physically. 7
GABRIEL JESUS (for Martinelli, 87) N/A
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (for Timber, 90+2) N/A
Sonia Twigg23 September 2024 03:00
John Stones: Clever or dirty, we know what to expect from Arsenal
Manchester City’s saviour John Stones said Arsenal have become one of the hardest teams to face because Mikel Arteta’s side are so adept at using the darker arts of the game.
Arsenal used every trick in the book as they hung on to a 2-1 lead for virtually the entire second half with 10 men after Leandro Trossard was sent off for kicking the ball away.
But substitute Stones popped up in the eighth minute of stoppage time to equalise and preserve City’s near two-year unbeaten run at home in the Premier League.
It was a huge relief for City who returned to the top of the table, two points ahead of rivals Arsenal who slipped to fourth.
In truth, City looked woefully short of ideas as Arsenal played with 10 men behind the ball, their usual slick passing game bogged down by Arsenal’s red wall.
“They’ve done it for a few years, and we know to expect that,” defender Stones, who played more like a centre forward when he came on, told Sky Sports.
“You can call it clever or dirty, whichever way you want to put it, they break up the game and obviously upset the rhythm for everyone. They use it to their advantage.
“I thought we dealt with it really well. It’s not easy. When those things are happening, you’re trying to gain momentum. You’re trying to get a foot into the game and get above them.
“Those little stoppages stop that. We controlled our emotions really well.”
Via Reuters
Sonia Twigg23 September 2024 02:00
Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal player ratings
MANCHESTER CITY
EDERSON: Could do nothing to stop Riccardo Calafiori’s opener and may well feel aggrieved that a block on him for Gabriel’s header was not called. 6 (out of 10)
KYLE WALKER: His second start of the campaign began poorly, although he was justified in being annoyed that a quick free-kick was allowed to be taken with him out of position. Improved in the second half. 5
RUBEN DIAS: A solid defensive option that became part of a 10-man attack. Guilty of some poor, desperate shots. 6
MANUEL AKANJI: Another pushed all the way up in search of a leveller. Moved the ball well. 7
JOSKO GVARDIOL: Not as effective as he can be but did little wrong. 6
RODRI: Looked to have picked up a potentially nasty injury in an innocuous coming together with Thomas Partey in the opening period. 5
ILKAY GUNDOGAN: Brought in for just his second start of the season, he struck the outside of the post with a free-kick. Popped up everywhere. 6
SAVINHO: Brilliantly burst away from Calafiori before slipping Haaland in to open the scoring in the ninth minute. A livewire that was blunted after the break. 7
BERNARDO SILVA: A thorn in Arsenal’s side whose movement between the lines proved a nuisance. 7
JEREMY DOKU: Looked livelier after a quiet first half, but could not find a way past Arsenal’s low block. 6
ERLING HAALAND: Clocked up his 100th goal for the club in a blistering start and was a physical presence, but service was largely lacking against a miserly backline. 7
SUBS:
MATEO KOVACIC (for Rodri, 21): A fine midfielder unable to truly make his mark. 6
PHIL FODEN (for Doku, 70): Brought on to spark a comeback but toiled like his team-mates. 6
JOHN STONES (for Walker, 78): A fresh pair of legs that finally found the breakthrough at the death. 7
JACK GREALISH (for Savinho, 78): A creative force that was mostly nullified. 6
Sonia Twigg23 September 2024 01:00
Riccardo Calafiori scored on his full debut
Calafiori told Sky Sports: “This is a high-level game - it’s the Premier League and especially against Man City, but we did well. We deserved more, I think.”
Asked about his spectacular strike, the Italy international added: “I don’t have anything to say. It was a really good strike and I was so happy to help the team.
“At the end, we didn’t win the game, so I’m a bit sad and disappointed as well.”
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori, whose goal dragged the visitors back into the game, felt they deserved more from it.
Sonia Twigg23 September 2024 00:01
Kyle Walker frustrated by Arsenal equaliser
City captain Kyle Walker was frustrated about the Arsenal equaliser, having been left out of position after being called for a chat by referee Michael Oliver.
He told Radio 5 Live: “I’m not ever going to come on national TV, national radio and start slagging people off because there’s enough of that going on around in the world.
“What I’m saying is I’ve not gone over to the referee. Me and Bukayo (Saka) have not gone over to the referee - he’s called us over. So if I’m being called over to the referee, he then should wait and allow me to get back in position before the ball is then gone over my head.
“So if I go over to the referee by my own accord and I’m out of position, it’s my fault. But I’m in position, he’s called the two captains obviously to calm the players down. I’m walking back saying ‘Lads, concentrate, nothing stupid, make sure we get through this.’ The ball is then going over my head.
“Me and Mike have a very good relationship and I think he has a very hard job, especially at the top level. So that’s not me being critical of him. I know he has a hard enough job, he’s got 22 angry players screaming at him continuously.
“If he calls me over, if I go over of my own accord, fair enough. But for him to call both captains over and then not let me get back in position. If I was a goalkeeper, does he let me get back in my net? Of course. I’m a defender, I’m the first line of defence he should let me get back in and be set and then blow the whistle.”
Reporting from PA
Sonia Twigg22 September 2024 23:15
Roy Keane reacts to Leandro Trossard red card
Roy Keane had a strong reaction to Trossard’s red card that forced Arsenal to completely change their tactics: Roy Keane discussing Leandro Trossard’s second yellow, said on Sky Sports: “If you’re on a yellow card, you try not to give the referee another chance to give you another yellow. He’s given the perfect opportunity.
“He has kicked the ball away, it’s not even a debate, you don’t need to watch it 30 times. He’s wrong, it’s a second yellow and it’s the height of stupidity.”
Sonia Twigg22 September 2024 22:45
Rodri injury latest
Guardiola will be concerned that Rodri may have caused a recurrence of the hamstring injury he picked up at Euro 2024, which saw him miss the start of City’s season.
After the match Guardiola said he did not know the nature of the injury.
Sonia Twigg22 September 2024 22:15
