Manchester City have drawn 2-2 with Arsenal – and Niall Quinn was left impressed by one player who he felt changed the game.
Manchester City and the Gunners played out a pulsating match at the Etihad Stadium, which culminated with John Stones scoring an equaliser deep into injury-time.
City took the lead through Erling Haaland and then lost Rodri through injury.
Arsenal then turned the game on its head with goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel, before losing Leandro Trossard. The Belgian picked up two yellow cards, the second for kicking the ball away.
In the second-half, City had to try and break Arsenal down and they managed to do so in the 98th minute.
And the goal would not have happened had it now been for Jack Grealish taking a quick corner.
Niall Quinn praises Jack Grealish after big impact for Man City against Arsenal
Grealish had started for City against Inter in the Champions League in midweek and did well against the Italians.
He could therefore count himself a bit unlucky not to have started against Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola started Jeremy Doku and Savinho, and Savinho really justified his selection with a brilliant assist for Haaland.
But in the second-half the game got difficult, and City needed someone to step up.
£300,000-a-week star Grealish was introduced for Savinho and did ultimately help City rescue a point.
Former City striker Niall Quinn felt his introduction was absolutely key for City, as he told the club’s official YouTube channel: “He kind of kids the defender into coming in and lunging in at him. Of course, the goal came from it, because eventually he gets in and he’s level enough to whip it back to the penalty spot.
“City for once were lacking that bit of craft to open up the chance. Lots of things weren’t happening for City but once Grealish started to come in, you could see Arsenal worrying a little bit, he had two or three moments before the goal.
“You have to give Grealish the plaudits tonight. He is a talent, and talents like that are either loved or disliked by people. He still retains that wonderful craft, that when the ball goes to him, it just flows his body movement.
“He’s a craftsman at play, and when he’s right and doing what he does best, I think there’s nobody better.”
A great week for Grealish
After his solid display against Inter, Grealish has now made an important contribution against Arsenal to cap off a great week for him.
We have heard him talk about the frustrations of missing out on the England squad and wanting to enjoy a really good 2024/25 and this will do him a lot of good.
Grealish is such a useful player.
As Quinn suggests, he is a craftsman. He came on today and helped City rescue a point.
Arsenal were proving very stubborn to break down, but he came on and picked the lock. Yes, there was a bit of luck about how the ball rebounded to Stones.
But it would never have happened with Grealish’s urgency.
