Thomas Partey put in a strong performance during his 100th game for Arsenal, but the Gunners were left disappointed at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday as Manchester City equalized late to secure a 2-2 draw.
Manchester City took an early lead when Erling Haaland broke free of Arsenal’s defense to toe-poke his finish past goalkeeper David Raya.
Arsenal equalized in the 22nd minute through new signing Calafiori, and Gabriel Magalhães then headed the Gunners into a 2-1 lead just before halftime.
However, their strong first-half performance was overshadowed when Leandro Trossard received a second yellow card for delaying the restart after a City free-kick.
Down to 10 men, Arsenal fought hard in the second half, with Thomas Partey playing a crucial role in midfield and winning key battles.
Despite their efforts, the defending champions struck back when substitute John Stones directed a goal-bound effort into the net amidst a scramble in the box.
The match, marking Partey’s 100th Premier League appearance, showcased his tireless work both defensively and offensively, even as Arsenal settled for a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Partey played a key role in Arsenal’s equalizer, using his quick thinking to release Martinelli down the left.
After catching Kyle Walker out of position, Martinelli set up Calafiori to level the score at 1-1.
The 31-year-old midfielder was instrumental throughout the match, winning the joint-most tackles for Arsenal (3) and completing 25 of his 30 attempted passes.
Since joining Arsenal in 2020, Partey has faced injury challenges that kept him out of several matches.
However, he has started all five games this season, contributing a crucial goal against Aston Villa in their second league outing.
Against Manchester City, Partey also celebrated his 300th league appearance, having previously played 200 games in La Liga and La Liga B with Real Mallorca, Almeria, and Atlético Madrid.
Notably, his 50th and 100th games for Arsenal across all competitions also came against City.
As it stands, Arsenal is in fourth place with 11 points, just two points behind league leaders Manchester City.
