">"Hit the opponent's occipital with the ball?" Manchester City-Arsnal match, which was like a dead-end drama, has begun the EPL championship war
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| ◇Elling Holan (left) and Gabriel Magalyangis, who fought even after the match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on the 23rd. On this day, the two teams drew 2 to 2 after a slugfest. AP Yonhap News |
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| Holan threw the ball to Arsenal defender Gabriel after John Stones' dramatic equalizer. Relay Faces |
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| The scene where Leandro Trossar is sent off. AP Yonhap News |
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| Man City manager Pep Guardiola kicks off the bench after Arsenal's Ricardo Calafior's equalizer. Relay Screen |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| 스승과 제자. AFP Yonhap News |
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Etihad Stadium was full of madness for 90 minutes on the 23rd (Korea time).
Manchester City and Arsenal, who have been fiercely fighting for the English Premier League (EPL) trophy for the past two years, have produced a variety of stories and rich things to see in their first showdown of the 2024-2025 season, as if representing their recent rivalry. From a neutral fan's point of view, it would have been a `popcorn match,' and fans of both teams would have been upset.
Nine minutes into the game, the stadium became noisy. Sabinho stabbed a penetrating pass between defenders in the direction of the opponent's door after fantastic pressure. Elling Holan, who cleverly broke through the offside trap and caught the ball, scored the first goal with a calm left-footed shot. Holan shot his 10th goal of the season in five games. He set a record of 10 goals in the shortest game in EPL history.
In the 22nd minute of the first half, Arsenal returned the game to square one with Ricardo Calafior's fantastic mid-range shot. Calafiori, who participated in the attack, drilled Ederson with a left-footed shot into the right corner of the goal. The Italian national defender, who joined Arsenal last summer, scored his debut goal against Manchester City.
Man City immediately took issue with the scoring process. Referee Michael Oliver, who oversaw the match, called Manchester City fullback Kyle Walker near the half-line to point out Manchester City's foul situation, but Arsenal quickly developed a free kick when Walker was not able to return to his position. Gabriel Martinelli caught the ball in the left-hand side of the walker's position and connected a pass to Calafior, who was following him, to equalize.
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| ReutersYonhap News |
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| APYonhap News |
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Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager who expressed his anger by kicking the bench hard immediately after the loss, said, `I was annoyed with Walker, but he was right. The referee indirectly expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision, saying, `From now on, if the referee says 'Come here and let's talk', I won't go to the referee.'
Manchester City's key midfielder Rodri, who is the target of Arsenal's intensive attack, was replaced by Matteo Kovacic due to a knee injury a minute before the equalizer loss. To make matters worse, it was a close call. "Rodri is a strong player," Guardiola said. "I would have asked for a replacement because I felt something."
Holan's first goal and controversial equalizer were just a prelude. Gabriel Magalyangis scored a come-from-behind goal with a strong header in the first minute of extra time in the first half. Gabriel, who scored the opening goal for Tottenham and North London derby, once again proved himself to be the `King of the Air.'
However, Arsenal suffered a mishap in which one was sent off in the eighth minute of extra time, seven minutes after scoring a come-from-behind goal. Striker Leandro Trossar was warned for kicking the ball after pushing Bernardu Silva with his body. Trossar, who received the first warning in the 34th minute of the first half, eventually had to leave the stadium before the first half was over due to cumulative warnings.
Manchester City, which had a numerical advantage, maintained a high share of 90% in the second half and played a one-sided half-court game. However, shots from Holan, Phil Foden, Walker and Ruben Dias were blocked by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. Raya was voted man of the match, blocking a total of nine shots.
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| ReutersYonhap News |
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| ReutersYonhap News |
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Raya also intensively hit Kovacic's left footed shot in the eighth minute of extra time in the second half. However, John Stones pushed the ball into the goal. Arsenal's defence failed to get over the last hurdle and eventually conceded an equaliser. Stones recently scored three EPL goals against Arsenal (2 goals) and Liverpool, showing off his strength in matches against strong teams.
Shortly after the dramatic score was scored, Holan took out the ball in the goal and threw it at the back of Gabriel's head on the broadcast screen. Some fans criticized it as an ungentlemanly act.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the players who fought to the end with 10 players after a disappointing 2-2 draw. Arsenal proved to be a team against Manchester City, which is losing four consecutive games even though one is lacking. Manchester City midfielder Silva, on the other hand, criticized Arsenal's defensive football, saying `Only one team played.'
After five consecutive unbeaten runs, Manchester City regained the lead with 13 points. Arsenal ranks fourth with 11 points, behind Liverpool and Aston Villa (12 points or more). The EPL championship war has just begun.
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| APYonhap News |
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yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
