Arsenal were guilty of ‘losing their heads’ and were left shocked by a stoppage-time goal from Manchester City who claimed a 2-1 victory in a stunning match to kick off 2022.
The Gunners’ first-half performance was described as ‘the best we have ever seen’ against the Premier League champions, as Bukayo Saka scored a brilliant breakaway goal to hand the hosts a half-time lead.
Arsenal’s hard work was undone by a needless red card from Gabrielgetty 
Man City won it late on through RodriGetty
It was fully deserved after a 45 minutes that saw City harried, pressed and rattled like they have not been this season.
But it all fell apart after the break in a quite mad three-minute spell, which saw Arsenal – who were missing boss Mikel Arteta on the touchline – concede a penalty, miss a sitter and then get a man sent off.
And it went from bad to worse in stoppage-time as Rodri pounced in the penalty area to hand City a late victory.
Granit Xhaka was again front and centre of the collapse as he was turned in the area by Bernardo Silva and then dragged down the City ace in the penalty area – with VAR intervening to award a spot-kick.
Riyad Mahrez stepped up to put the penalty away, in a parting gift to his club before the Algerian departs for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Arsenal were not happy with the penalty decision, though, with Xhaka, stand-in captain Alexandre Lacazette and centre-back Gabriel furious with the referee.
It all started so well for Arsenal as Saka found the corner past a helpless EdersonGetty 
But Xhaka then conceded a penalty before Gabriel was shown his marching ordersAFP
Gabriel earned a yellow card for scuffing the penalty spot before Mahrez stepped up, and moments later was booked again after a moment of red-blooded madness.
The Gunners had just gone agonisingly close to going back in front – the lively Gabriel Martinelli firing shockingly wide with the goal at his mercy after a mix-up at the back from City.
Nathan Ake was forced to clear the ball off his line after Ruben Diaz accidentally headed the ball over his own goalkeeper in an attempted back-pass. Martinelli pounced, but his awkward shot fired wide of the post.
Then, attention immediately turned to the centre-spot, with replays showing Gabriel clobbering City striker Gabriel Jesus in the build-up to the Gunners’ miss.
It saw the Brazilian sent off, just minutes after being booked.
Rodri led the wild Man City celebrations following his late winner, with boos ringing out from Arsenal fansgetty
The rest of the game maintained its chaotic feeling and, when it appeared the points would be shared, Rodri stepped up during the six minutes of stoppage-time to hand City a late, late victory.
It made it 11 Premier League wins in a row for the defending champions, who go 11 points clear at the top of the table before title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool play each other on Sunday.
But this game will be remembered for Arsenal throwing it away after their scintillating first-half display, with isolating manager Mikel Arteta likely to be tearing his hair out as he watched the game at home.
And that was a sentiment shared by talkSPORT pundit and former defender Alvin Martin, who was at the Emirates for the stunning Premier League clash.
“The better team lost today,” he said, speaking live from the north London ground.
“I’ve never seen Man City rattled like that. They were being overrun, they’ve never been asked as many questions this season as they have in that first 45 minutes against Arsenal.
“It was as good as I’ve seen Arsenal play in a long-long time.
A combination of Xhaka and Gabriel losing their heads saw Arsenal’s efforts destroyedGetty
“It was only through two incidents of silly and ill discipline that Arsenal haven’t won this game. Nevermind lose it or draw it, they could have won it.
“But as they walk off, you can see all the fans have stayed here, they’re applauding their team, they think there’s a way forward for them now.
“If Gabriel and Xhaka hadn’t made three mad decisions, I think they would have won this game, that’s how good Arsenal were today, they were brilliant.
“But, they lost their heads and you just cannot afford to do that against this Man City team.
“I can only imagine what’s going on in Mikel Arteta’s house this afternoon, he would have gone through every emotion possible within this 90 minutes.
“Arsenal can take a lot of positives out of the game, certainly more than Man City can. It’s a lesson that Man City perhaps aren’t as imperious and perfect as we all make them out to be sometimes, because they’ve been given a going over at times by Arsenal today.
“You’ve got to give it to Man City, but they know they had a large chunk of luck today and, if they continue to get that luck in 2022, who knows what they can achieve.”
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