Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was once City manager Pep Guardiola’s assistant and the respect between the two men has previously softened the battle for supremacy between the two sides.
But after finishing second to City in each of the past two seasons, the Gunners were keen to make their mark on the champions.
Kai Havertz barrelled into Rodri within seconds at the Etihad to set the tone for a bad-tempered tussle between the title favourites.
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Arsenal felt harshly treated when Leandro Trossard was sent off at the end of the first half for kicking the ball away, receiving a second yellow card.
But as the visitors dug deep, tensions flared between the benches.
Arsenal’s attempts to waste time drew the ire of City players, coaches and fans.
Erling Haaland responded by throwing the ball at Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes’s head in celebration of City’s late equaliser — meaning they have still not been beaten at home since 2022.
Haaland also sparked fiery post-game scenes with his post game remarks to Arteta, telling the coach to “stay humble, eh” before having heated words with Gabriel Jesus who he told to “get the f*** away” from him.
“What you talking about? Get the f*** away from me you f***ing clown,” Haaland said before Arteta eventually difused the situation by pulling his players away.
Haaland won’t face retrospective punishment for throwing the ball into the back of Gabriel’s head, although he is still under fire.
“You know what really boiled me up properly? Haaland’s coward move – throwing the ball at Gabi’s head when he’s not looking, when his back is turned to him,” Arsenal legend Ian Wright wrote on Instagram.
“It’s a coward’s move. Gabi would look you in the eye.
“That’s what bothered me more than anything else. I thought you [Haaland] were bigger than that.”
MAN CITY’S RODRI ‘OUT FOR SEASON’ AFTER ACL INJURY: REPORTS
Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri could miss the rest of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, according to reports in Spain on Monday.
The 28-year-old limped off during City’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday after going down holding his right knee.
ESPN and Spanish sports daily Marca reported that tests on Monday have confirmed an ACL tear.
Rodri’s loss would be a huge blow to City’s hopes of winning a fifth consecutive Premier League title and ambitions of reclaiming the Champions League.
The former Atletico Madrid player has lost just one of his last 84 games for club and country.
He has been touted as a potential Ballon d’Or winner this year after his influential role in City’s latest Premier League title and Spain’s success at Euro 2024.
“Rodri is strong. He leaves the pitch in this action because he felt something, otherwise Rodri stays there,” City boss Pep Guardiola said after the Arsenal match.
“He’s the best holding midfielder in the world, he is a potential Ballon d’Or winner. I would love for him to win (the Ballon d’Or).”
City were already light in cover for Rodri and his absence leaves a gaping hole in the middle of Guardiola’s midfield.
Mateo Kovacic has deputised in the holding midfield role early in the season as Rodri was bedded in slowly after his exertions in winning player of the tournament at Euro 2024.
Just last week Rodri had warned leading players could go on strike over an ever-expanding schedule.
He played over 5,000 minutes in 63 games for City and Spain last season. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but it’s something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer,” he said on the increasing physical and mental demands placed on players.
“Someone has to take care of us because we are the main characters of this, let’s say, sport, or business, whatever you want to call it.
City face Watford in the League Cup on Tuesday, little over 48 hours after the Arsenal match.
ANGE ‘GETTING NARKIER BY THE GAME’
Ange Postecoglou eased some pressure on his position at Tottenham after Spurs beat Brentford 3-1 following last week’s loss to bitter rivals Arsenal.
Rumblings have been growing around the Australian’s job due to a poor start to the season, which has seen Spurs win just two of their opening five games, while they only snatched a late win over Championship side Coventry in the EFL Cup.
Heading into the weekend, Postecoglou insisted it would take time to leave a successful mark on Tottenham, telling fans to “embrace the struggle”.
Beating Brentford did little to lighten the mood of Postecoglou who cut an irritated figure postmatch as he was forced to take questions about goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario getting away with handling the ball outside the penalty area.
EPL Wrap: Ange’s Spurs bounce back | 02:28
“Okay, look I guess we were lucky to get the result,” a clearly irritated Postecoglou said in a sarcastic tone.
There’s little doubt Postecoglou would’ve preferred the press conference to focus around Tottenham’s improved performance, and the scintillating football the club is capable of under his mentorship.
Instead, he appears to be growing increasingly frustrated, drawing criticism from the Daily Mail’s Matt Barlow.
“If points were handed out for irritability Tottenham would not be wallowing in midtable. Not with Ange Postecoglou setting the tone,” he wrote.
“Getting narkier by the game, in a hurry to take umbrage, seemingly aghast there have not been more gushing reviews about his team’s performances.”
MAN UTD STADIUM REGENERATION COULD ADD £7.3BN TO BRITISH ECONOMY
A proposed regeneration of the area around Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium could generate £7.3 billion ($14.3 billion) annually to the British economy, according to an economic feasibility study commissioned by the club.
However, mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said on Monday no public money would go towards the project.
United are considering whether to pursue a £2 billion plan for a brand new 100,000-seater stadium or redevelop the existing 74,000 capacity Old Trafford.
Burnham has backed the ambitions to redevelop the stadium alongside a “mixed use” neighbourhood featuring apartment blocks, shopping centres and new public transport stations.
Global advisory firm Oxford Economics revealed the regeneration project could deliver 92,000 new jobs, more than 17,000 new homes and an extra 1.8million visitors per year to the area.
“This could be the biggest regeneration scheme I’ve ever seen in this country,” said Burnham.
“We hope it’s the best football stadium in the world, which brings benefits to residents around it.”
The project is being spearheaded by United co-owner, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, who bought a minority stake in the club earlier this year.
Although Ratcliffe initially hinted he could pursue government assistance in order to fund a “Wembley of the north”, that appears now to have been ruled out.
Last week United appointed globally renowned architects Foster + Partners to work on the plans.
Fans are being asked for their views on the redevelopment, with former United captain Gary Neville, part of an Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, urging supporters to take part.
US-BASED GROUP REACH DEAL TO BUY EVERTON
Everton announced on Monday that the US-based Friedkin Group has reached an agreement to buy Farhad Moshiri’s majority stake in the struggling Premier League club.
The deal is subject to regulatory approval from the Premier League, the Football Association and the Financial Conduct Authority.
The group, led by American billionaire Dan Friedkin, had entered a period of exclusivity to negotiate a possible purchase in June, before Everton announced the following month that no deal would be struck between the parties.
American investment firm 777 Partners were unable to complete a deal earlier this year.
John Textor, who has a 45 per cent share in Crystal Palace, had appeared to be in the frame, but Everton’s statement on Monday confirmed an agreement had been reached with Friedkin.
“Blue Heaven Holdings and the Friedkin Group confirm that they have reached agreement over the terms of the sale of Blue Heaven Holdings’ majority stake in Everton Football Club,” the club said.
A spokesman for The Friedkin Group said: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement to become custodians of this iconic football club.
“We are focused on securing the necessary approvals to complete the transaction. We look forward to providing stability to the club, and sharing our vision for its future, including the completion of the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.” The club are putting the finishing touches to a new stadium and are preparing to leave Goodison Park, which has been the club’s home since 1892.
Friedkin, who also owns Serie A side Roma, has a net worth of $7.6 billion, according to Forbes.
“The potential addition of Everton to our portfolio does not alter our focus on AS Roma. If anything, the multi-club symbiosis will only help Roma,” Friedkin said in a statement published on the Roma website.
Sean Dyche’s side are second from bottom of the Premier League after four defeats in their opening five matches.
Everton have remained in the English top flight for the last 70 years but have survived a number of battles to avoid relegation in recent seasons.
Last season they were docked a total of eight points for breaching Premier League financial rules.
The Liverpool-based club posted losses of just under £400 million ($534 million) for the four years between 2019 and 2023.
British-Iranian businessman Moshiri first bought a 49.9 per cent stake in Everton in 2016, before increasing his holding to 94.1 per cent in 2022.
Despite their recent struggles, Everton are one of England’s most historic clubs. Only Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City have won more top-flight titles than their total of nine.
But the last of those came in the 1986/1987 season and the club have not won a trophy since 1995.
