Mikel Arteta’s men have once again started the season like a house on fire and were close to claiming a famous victory away to the champions but had their hearts broken by John Stones’ last-minute equaliser.

Etihad has served as a slaughtering slab for Manchester City over the years, with visitors securing a point thereat far and between. But Arsenal were a whisker close to securing a win on the hallowed turf on Sunday despite playing more than 50 minutes of the encounter with a man less.

The second half saw City have 28 shots on goal as against one by Arsenal, while the home side had 88 per cent of the ball, for which Bernardo Silva had a dig at the Gunners.

“The difference? Maybe Liverpool have already won the Premier League; Arsenal haven’t. That Liverpool have won the Champions League, Arsenal haven’t,” the midfielder said.”Liverpool always faced us face to face to try to win the games, so from this perspective, the games against Arsenal haven’t been like the ones we had and have against Liverpool. So yes, maybe a different rivalry.”

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh and some Arsenal fans believe this could be the year that the Gunners will win the title.

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