Key occasions
45+4 min As Gary Neville stresses on Sky, Saka’s supply for each Gabriel probabilities was nigh-on excellent.
45+3 min Blimey.
45+2 min There was a VAR test for a possible foul by Martinelli on Ederson, however the aim stands. Martinelli knew what he was doing, no query, however all he actually did was stand his floor. With the present threshold it was by no means going to be overturned.
Ruben Dias has been booked, presumably for dissent.
It was precisely the identical nook because the one within the thirty eighth minute, however this time Gabriel received the header on track. He misplaced Kyle Walker – who was taking part in foolish buggers earlier than the nook was taken, patting Gabriel repeatedly – far too simply close to the penalty spot. Saka once more put the ball proper below the crossbar, Ederson was blocked by Martinelli and Gabriel roared onto the scene to go in from three yards.
GOAL! Man Metropolis 1-2 Arsenal (Gabriel 45+1)
If at first you don’t succeed…
45 min Saka releases the overlapping Rice, who wins one other nook for Arsenal. They’re dominating the sport simply now.
44 min Metropolis have misplaced a lot of their snap for the reason that equaliser, although they’re nonetheless dominating possession. Half-time will come at a very good second for them.
42 min: Likelihood for Arsenal! Gabriel decides to play Beckenbauer, strolling ahead and sliding a slick return cross to launch Martinelli on the left. He will get behind Walker and cuts the ball again sharply to Trossard, who shoots over from 15 yards on the stretch. It was an ungainly ball to take first time however we’ve seen Trossard rating not dissimilar probabilities prior to now.
Martinelli has been Arsenal’s most harmful attacker by a good distance.
41 min “I’d prefer to know what the ref stated throughout that break,” says Mark Childs. “Walker (and Saka) has simply been instructed as captain ‘inform your gamers to settle down’, then shouldn’t he be given the time to take action?”
I don’t learn about that, however he ought to have been given extra time to get again to right-back. You may perceive why Metropolis had been so indignant.
40 min Metropolis have had 72 per cent of the possession, which is outstanding, though Arsenal are in all probability having their finest spell of the half as I sort.
38 min: Likelihood for Arsenal! Saka curls a improbable inswinging nook to the far put up, the place Gabriel heads over from barely 4 yards. What an opportunity! Ederson was out of the sport, on the ground after working into Martinelli, so Gabriel solely wanted to recover from the ball to attain.
37 min Timber performs a very good return cross to Saka, forcing Gvardiol to concede a nook. It’s Arsenal’s first, I feel, and we all know how harmful they’re at set-pieces.
36 min Doku will get concerned for the primary time, taking part in a fast give-and-go with Gvardiol earlier than hitting a shot from the sting of the world that deflects behind. Savinho’s inswinger is headed away by Havertz.
34 min One large plus for Arsenal is that Timber has performed Doku superbly up to now. Speaking of Doku, he appears to kick the ball away however isn’t booked by Michael Oliver.
Trossard is given a yellow card for a tactical foul on Savinho. No argument with that.
32 min We’ve simply seen a replay of the Arsenal aim. Kyle Walker was fuming as a result of the referee known as him and Bukayo Saka over of their function as captains, then allowed Arsenal to launch Martinelli from the free-kick earlier than Walker was capable of get again.
Walker was additionally a bit sluggish to return to his place earlier than the free-kick was taken. I can see each side!
31 min Arsenal’s aim was a factor of strange magnificence however that apart they’ve performed little or no in possession. They’ve defended lots deeper since Haaland’s aim and are doing that half fairly properly.
30 min A crisp 30-yarder from Walker is saved comfortably by Raya, diving to his proper.
29 min Savinho beats Calafiori once more and crosses early in the direction of Haaland. Saliba will get throughout to make an necessary header. Calafiori has had a fairly torrid time in his day job, however his aspect hustle goes swimmingly.
28 min After a few minutes of frothing and foaming, Metropolis have picked up the place they left off earlier than Rodri’s harm. There’s nonetheless a spiteful edge to the match although, and there’s a good probability it received’t finish 1-1 or 11v11.
27 min “I do know you’ve received the tempo to deal with Haaland, however isn’t he a bit taller than you?” says Joe Pearson. “No offence.”
Yeah however you recognize what they are saying: the primary two toes are within the head.
26 min Think about.
25 min Effectively that’s modified the temper. Till that time Metropolis had been rampant.
24 min It’s very uncommon {that a} participant finds the highest nook with an outswinger relatively than an inswinger. Even rarer when it’s a left-back making his full debut.
Metropolis are livid about one thing however Riccardo Calafiori has simply scored a screamer on his full debut. Partey took a fast free kick to seek out Martinelli in area on the left. He made good floor, then minimize inside and laid the ball again to Calafiori simply exterior the world. Calafiori walked onto the ball and curled an extravagant left-foot shot that beat Ederson and nestled within the far nook. What a aim!
Pep Guardiola kicks a seat in frustration, whereas Ederson has been booked. Metropolis weren’t joyful as a result of they thought the free-kick was taken 10 yards away from the place the unique foul came about.
GOAL! Man Metropolis 1-1 Arsenal (Calafiori 22)
What the hell has simply occurred?
21 min: Man Metropolis substitution Mateo Kovacic replaces Rodri and instantly dispenses some three-fingered tactical recommendation.
The break permits Michael Oliver to have a phrase with each captains. It has been a really niggly begin to the sport.
21 min “Simply because the Nice White Shark is a brutal, environment friendly hunter killer, so Haaland is relating to scoring objectives,” says Mary Waltz. “Who can cease him?”
Me, however Mikel received’t reply my bloody WhatsApps.
20 min Rodri is on his toes and limping very slowly to the touchline. His afternoon is over; let’s simply hope it isn’t a critical harm.
18 min Rodri is sitting up now however seems to be fairly distressed – extra, I believe, due to the character of the injury relatively than the precise ache. He jarred his proper leg as he fell and instantly clutched it when he hit the ground.
17 min The gamers had been jockeying for place at a nook. Partey was monitoring Rodri, they collided after which Rodri fell actually awkwardly. I concern he has injured knee ligaments.
16 min Rodri is down once more, this time holding the again of his leg. The Metropolis gamers have known as for the physio. This doesn’t look good in any respect.
16 min Arsenal are below all types of strain, and in the intervening time this sport feels extra 2022-23 than 2023-24.
15 min: Gundogan hits the put up! It was a effective free-kick, curled around the aspect of the wall. Raya flew desperately to his left and the ball thumped off the surface of the put up. Had that been on track I feel it might have gone in.