Two Arsenal players set an unprecedented Premier League passing record in their match against Manchester City.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Arsenal seemed poised for a notable 2-1 victory at the Etihad. Erling Haaland scored first in the ninth minute, but Riccardo Calafiori equalized with a stunning left-footed shot. Gabriel then put the Gunners ahead with a header from a corner just before halftime, although Leandro Trossard received a red card shortly after, leaving Arsenal to fend off pressure with ten players.
As they fought to maintain their lead, John Stones equalized in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Forward Kai Havertz and makeshift full-back Jurrien Timber had to help out defensively, but neither completed a successful pass throughout the match, breaking an Opta record for outfield players who played 89+ minutes without a completed pass. Remarkably, both failed to convert their passing attempts—Havertz with five and Timber with six.
The match ended in a draw, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his team’s incredible defensive performance. He remarked, “It’s impossible. It’s already very difficult against 11 players, let alone with ten. We were under constant pressure to defend with six players in our box. I’m unbelievably proud of them. After surviving so many minutes, it was disappointing to concede like that, especially after playing for 97 or 99 minutes. But I have to take pride in their effort.”
