Erling Haaland rubbed salt in Arsenal’s wounds at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon as he threw the ball into the back of Gabriel’s head after John Stones had equalised for the hosts in the 98th-minute.
The Gunners produced a defensive masterclass with 10-men in the second period after Leandro Trossard had been dismissed for a second bookable offence at the end of the first half after kicking the ball away with his team leading 2-1.
Stones then lashed the ball into the back of the net at the death as City maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign to return to the top of the Premier League table after Liverpool had temporarily knocked them off their perch following victory over Bournemouth on Saturday.
Haaland scored the opening goal against Arsenal as he tucked the ball past David Raya after being fed through by Savinho.
But the hosts were dealt a huge blow just before the midway stage of the first half as influential midfielder Rodri was forced off following a collision with Thomas Partey. And their misery was compounded moments later when Riccardo Calafiori curled a sumptuous effort beyond Ederson to level the game.
Gabriel powered in a header from close range to give the north London giants a 2-1 lead in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the opening period, with Trossard given his marching orders before the half time whistle had blown.
The visitors were forced to defend a barrage of attacks from City after the interval as the Pep Guardiola’s side attempted to make their numerical advantage pay. And they thought they had done enough until Stones popped up with the winner with virtually the final kick of the game.
Haaland had been locked in a fierce battle with Arsenal centre-backs Williams Saliba and Gabriel throughout the contest, with the Gunners pairing coming out on top more often than not.
But the Norway striker took the opportunity to get under Gabriel’s skin for one final time as he grabbed the ball out of the back of the net following his team’s equaliser and ferociously launched the ball at the back of the Brazilian’s head with both hands. The defender was standing with his shirt pulled over his face at the time after his side had failed to cling onto their lead.
The incident appeared to trigger a brawl between the two sets of players, with City and Arsenal stars squaring off against each other. Haaland then exchanged words with former City striker Gabriel Jesus, who had come on as a substitute in the dying moments.
The result leaves City one point ahead of Liverpool at the top of the table with 13 points, with Arsenal down in fourth on 11 points.
And after the match, City hero Stones said: “I came on and tried to be inside the box for more crosses. One dropped to me and thankfully I put it in the back of the net. I’m really pleased to have scored the goal like that.”
