With red-shirted players scattered about like the blobs in a Mondrian sketch disfigured by Mancunian rain, the scene of utter devastation in Arsenal’s penalty area on Sunday afternoon was mirrored off the park by the uncontrollable glee all around the stands. As Erling Haaland bobbed the ball off Gabriel Maghalaes’ head, buried as it was deep inside his shirt, it felt like City v Arsenal was reaching its zenith. Screeching, groaning and the gnashing of teeth.
People shaking their fists at the sky, at each other and into the shuddering cameras. Shredded tempers everywhere, bulging eye sockets and rich profanities in Dutch, Italian and Portuguese. Arsenal Fan TV was first to arrive at the crime scene.
Long the source of wisdom for fans of Herbert Chapman, Chippy Brady and Terry Neill, they huddled feverishly around their mics and declared “Manchester City are now scared of Arsenal!”. But, it was not fear that drove this titanic clash to a tear-stained, sweat-drenched 99th minute conclusion. It was far more than that.
Blessed with the confidence that comes from trailing City for two consecutive years and the fruitful inside information of a man who used to sit alongside Pep Guardiola for his troubles, Arsenal are growing bit by bit into a worthy rival and, as they do, the rivalry their resurgence creates also swells to dangerous proportions. To understand its current volatility, however, we must travel back to an era when Arsenal’s major spats were held annually across.
