It was an act that should never have been done, because there was already a warning card. Leandro Trossar was sent off for a time delay following a rough foul, ruining the ‘preview final’ Arsenal and Manchester City.
Manchester City had a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the fifth round of the Premier League (PL) of the 2024-25 season at the Emirates Stadium in London, England, at 11 p.m. on the 28th (Korea time). With the draw, Manchester City maintained its lead with five undefeated matches (4 wins and 1 draw) since the opening.
Manchester City and Arsenal have been fiercely competing for the championship for the past three seasons. In particular, the resourcefulness battle between “Teacher” Pep Guardiola and “Jeja” Mikel Arteta has been fierce every season, and Manchester City has won the title in the last two seasons.
Last season, Manchester City was regarded as the only “horsepower” that could prevent Manchester City from dominating the club. Arsenal competed with Manchester City until the final match of the season. Manchester City won against Everton in the final match, but Manchester City also won against West Ham in the final match. However, with a “two point difference,” Arteta had to look at Manchester City’s history of “four consecutive wins.” 메이저사이트
Manchester City and Arsenal are also considered the likely candidates for this season. Since both teams were undefeated after the opening, the showdown was dubbed a “preview final.”
As expected, the match was fierce. Both teams were without Kevin De Bruyne and Martin Oedegaard, the playmakers and aces, but they played aggressively from the beginning of the game. The first goal was for Manchester City’s troubleshooter Erling Holland. In the 9th minute of the first half, Savinho connected a sharp through-pass in the center, and Holland, who was rushing to it, scored a sensational one-touch shot into the net. Holland scored 10 goals in five league games and achieved his 100th goal for Manchester City.
A variable occurred. Rodri, who was injured in the 21st minute of the first half, went out and Kovacic came in. Arsenal put the game to square one in a chaotic situation. In the 22nd minute of the first half, Arsenal attempted a quick free kick, and Martinelli gave up a pass from the side, and Calafiori connected it with a left-footed non-stop shot. The ball was sucked into the corner of the goal with a fantastic trajectory.
Arsenal regained the mood and succeeded in turning the tables. With a corner kick in the first half, Magalanche sent a header off Saka’s ball into the net. However, Arsenal were outnumbered. Just before the end of the first half, Trossar committed a violent foul on Bernardou Silva and was sent off with a second warning due to a time delay. Arsenal led 2-1 in the first half, but they fought in the second half amid numerical inferiority.
It was a stupid send-off. The rough foul on Silva was unnecessary because there was already a warning card, but what was worse was the subsequent delay. After committing a foul on Silva, he kicked the ball to delay Manchester City’s quick attack, which ultimately resulted in him being sent off with a warning card.
Arteta, who was outnumbered, had to make a pragmatic decision. He used six hundred at the start of the second half, leaving Saka out and White in. Arsenal, who were outnumbered, would have been able to defend until the end of the match if it had not been for Trossar’s stupid exit.
Nor did the team get any results. After Trossar’s departure, Arteta strengthened his defense by using a 6-3 system. Manchester City continued to attack, but Arsenal overcame the crisis by blocking the goalkeeper well. However, they failed to pass the final minute. Stones scored a theatrical goal in a mixed match in the second half, and the match ended in a tie.
Of course, the away draw for Manchester City is not a bad outcome for Arsenal. However, the two teams were spoiled by Trossar’s exit, which was a huge variable, and Arsenal had to defend throughout the second half.