It was tense, it was physical, it was loaded with drama and storylines and that was before the momentum in this Premier League title-shaper had swung again – away from Arsenal just before half-time. Mikel Arteta’s team had recovered from an initial storm that featured Erling Haaland putting Manchester City in front with his 100th goal for them – in only his 105th appearance.

Riccardo Calafiori’s long-range equaliser on his full Arsenal debut was a thing of beauty, City raging over the ethics of a quickly taken free-kick by Thomas Partey in the buildup and the visitors felt the surge of possibility when Gabriel Magalhães headed them in front, from a set-piece, of course. No team does them quite like Arsenal these days.