Gabriel Martinelli is running against Kyle Walker. (Image: Getty.)
Arsenal came close to passing the ultimate test of holding Manchester City to ten men as John Stones denied them a crucial win in the dying seconds of the game.
The home side took the lead through Erling Haaland after Savinho's superb pass beat Riccardo Calafiori. But after Rodri was forced off injured, Arsenal equalised through their Italian left-back, before Gabriel completed the comeback with another goal from a corner.
Leandro Trossard was shown a second yellow card just before half-time for delaying the restart, giving the Gunners an uphill task in the remaining 45 minutes.
They looked set to push City back but Stones scored in the 98th minute to save the hosts and deny Arsenal a famous victory at the Etihad.
Express Sport rates the performances of each Manchester City and Arsenal player below…
Manchester City Player Ratings
Ederson-5
Another goalkeeper caught out being congested in the penalty area from an Arsenal corner. Ederson argued for a foul as Gabriel walked away to celebrate, but like so many before him, there was no offence and he simply had to do more to keep out a close-range header.
Kyle Walker – 3
A total disaster from the City captain. Arsenal's opening goal could be partly blamed on referee Anthony Taylor, who called Kyle Walker in for a chat shortly before the visitors' quick free-kick led to Calafiori's goal, but Walker still had time to get back and save Gabriel Martinelli.
Walker, however, has only himself to blame for that second goal. He tried several times to deflect Gabriel wide to put the Brazilian offside, but was left standing, wrong-footed as the Arsenal player jumped to collect another Bukayo Saka corner.
Ruben Dias – 6
A quiet day for Ruben Dias who didn't have much to do, especially in the second half, with Arsenal choosing not to play with a recognised striker following Trossard's red card.
Akanji Manual – 6
Much like his central defensive partner, Manuel Akanji would have hoped to have done more for Gabriel's goal, but ultimately the blame lies with someone else.
Josko Gvardiol – 6
Josko Gvardiol kept Saka relatively quiet and the England star was hauled off at half-time, giving the left-back the freedom to get forward and attack, but he was unable to influence the play going forward. He almost broke the Arsenal backline with a powerful strike late on which was parried by David Raya, before Stones came to the rescue.
Kyle Walker blamed the referee for Arsenal's first goal. (Image: Getty)
Rodri-6
He had to be replaced after 20 minutes with a suspected knee injury, but Rodri was at his usual best and it was no coincidence that City scored while he was on the pitch.
Ilkay Gündogan – 7
He had the chance to score a wonder goal in the first half, after stopping a sparkling pass from Bernardo Silva by curling the ball over the Arsenal defence, but his shot went wide.
Bernardo Silva – 6
We could have hoped to have had more influence on the game, replacing Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden. But Declan Rice and Thomas Partey did a solid job on the Portuguese maestro.
Savinho – 8
An excellent move to deceive Calafiori on the halfway line before slipping Haaland through for City's goal. His assist was a glimpse of what the Brazilian could bring to the club and was one of the brightest sparks in Pep Guardiola's side.
Jeremy Doku – 5
Less effective on the left flank, Timber did an impressive job on the wing. He was replaced shortly after the hour mark by Foden.
Erling Haaland – 8
Haaland scored a typical first-half goal, latching onto Savinho's through ball after creating space between William Saliba and Gabriel.
His 100th for City and there will no doubt be many more to come.
Subtitles: Mateo Kovacic, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, John Stones – 8 – for his very late finish.
Erling Haaland stabs the ball past David Raya. (Image: Getty)
Arsenal Player Ratings
David Raya – 7
Made obsolete by the goals conceded, City struggled to force the Spaniard into the same kind of saves as his heroics last time out against Atalanta. He did make a few smart saves in the second half, including a late Gvardiol shot that required a save before being denied by Stones' late effort.
Jurrien Woods – 8
A slightly altered role for Timber this week, moving to the right in the absence of Ben White, giving him the difficult task of handling the tricky Doku.
However, the Dutchman was Arsenal's best defender and kept his man out of the game, showing exactly why Arteta was so keen to steal him from Ajax and just what a big miss he was last season.
William Saliba – 6
A quieter evening for Saliba but he will be disappointed not to have followed Haaland's run better for the Norwegian's goal.
Gabriel – 8
Gabriel has become Arsenal's biggest attacking threat. Whether against City or last week against Tottenham, he made the difference by capitalising on Saka's corners, when teams seemed powerless to prevent set pieces.
Riccardo Calafiori – 8
In his first Premier League start, Calafiori will be delighted not only to find the back of the net with a curling strike from distance, but also to produce a fine performance at left-back.
Aside from losing Savinho too easily, which led to Haaland's goal, the Italian has been solid and another potent weapon available in defence for Arteta.
Gabriel rises higher at the far post to score. (Image: Getty)
Declan Rice – 6
Having turned down City to join Arsenal from West Ham a year ago, Rice was keen to make his mark and delivered a solid, if unspectacular, performance.
Thomas Partey – 6
The Ghanaian worked hard to protect the back four, and in the second half, a five-man defence behind him.
Leandro Trossard – 3
Trossard nearly cost Arsenal the game, and even the title race, with a ridiculous red card at half-time. The visitors were on the verge of a very encouraging first half when he was shown a second yellow card.
Gary Neville branded the decision “stupid” after Trossard chose to delay a free-kick and push the ball away after fouling Silva. He is happy Arsenal still took home all three points.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Substituted at half-time, Saka had a quiet first half for 45 minutes but his whipped shot from a corner was perfect for Gabriel to attack.
Kai Havertz – 6
Another night for Kai Havertz where he had to work hard instead of being an attacking presence, but he got the job done and even had to drop down into midfield for the second half, where he helped the Gunners defend as a unit.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7
Martinelli was quick to react to a Walker shot, setting up Calafiori for Arsenal's opening goal. If the Brazilian can rediscover his best form, he could be a major asset this season, with Raheem Sterling in the wings.
Subtitles: Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Gabriel Jesus, Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1951866/Man-City-Arsenal-player-ratings-Walker