Manchester City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 11 points after midfielder Rodri scored in injury time to seal a 2-1 win and break Arsenal hearts in a pulsating encounter at the Emirates stadium on Saturday.  

A spirited performance from the home side saw them take the lead in the 31st minute with Bukayo Saka scoring his fourth goal in the last three games. The goal was the first Arsenal scored against City in five Premier League games. 

A brilliant counter attack saw freed up left-back Kieran Tierney down the left, who picked out Saka inside the box, with the 20-year-old making no mistakes.

Arsenal dominated proceedings for most of the first half, not allowing City to settle into their rhythm and threatening on the break, particularly with Gabriel Martinelli. 

The in-form Brazilian winger had a curler that narrowly missed the top right corner before fizzing an effort wide after a slaloming run down the left channel.  

The major talking point from the first half was a penalty incident in the 10th minute, with VAR ruling City goalkeeper Ederson did not commit a foul when he slid in for a tackle on Martin Odegaard inside the box. 

City’s best chance of the half fell to Ruben Dias after the Portuguese defender was picked out by Raheem Sterling at the near post, but the effort went just wide of target.  

City equalised from the spot soon after the break after Granit Xhaka brought down Bernardo Silva, with the Swiss midfielder holding onto his opponent’s shirt. The referee initially turned down City’s appeal for a penalty, but VAR overturned the decision after a check, with Riyad Mahrez coolly slotting past Aaron Ramsdale. 

Arsenal missed a great opportunity to retake the lead just minutes later, when a mix-up between the City defenders and goalkeeper saw Dias’ header loop over the goalkeeper towards an empty net. Nathan Ake slid in with a brilliant clearance off the line only to send the ball towards Martinelli, who struck the post with the entire goal at his mercy. 

Things went from bad to worse for the Gunners, who had defender Gabriel sent off for two bookable offences within minutes. 

Arsenal would be made to rue their misses at the death, with a spell of sustained City pressure finally paying off in the third minute of injury time. A brilliant cross into the box from Kevin de Bruyne was not cleared well by Arsenal and the ball fell at Rodri’s feet after a scramble, with the Spaniard making no mistakes in slotting past Ramsadale.