“I am so annoyed”, “This lapse in concentration cost us” - Arsenal fans blame 27-year-old star for Manchester City scoring 98th-minute equaliser
Some Arsenal fans online were left frustrated with Gabriel Jesus after their 2-2 draw against Manchester City. The two sides played out an enthralling match at the Etihad in the Premier League on Sunday, September 22.
Erling Haaland put City in the lead in the ninth minute before Riccardo Calafiori restored parity in the 22nd minute. In the first-half stoppage time, Gabriel Magalhaes scored to make it 2-1 but Leandro Trossard was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. The Gunners played the entire second half with 10 men.
Manchester City pushed the visitors into their own box for the majority of the second half but found it hard to break them down. Mikel Arteta then brought on Gabriel Jesus in the 87th minute for Gabriel Martinelli.
In stoppage time, instead of clearing the ball, the striker took it to Arsenal's corner flag to try to get a foul or a goal kick. However, he ended up conceding a corner which allowed the hosts to maintain their pressure. Eventually, City found their equalizer in the eighth minute of stoppage time through John Stones.
A section of Arsenal fans were displeased with Jesus' actions and reacted on X, writing:
"I am so annoyed at Gabriel Jesus right now. Time is up, all you need to do is kick it away from our goal, not take it back to the corner flag gifting them a needless corner."
Another tweeted:
"Gabriel Jesus with his stupid kick away at the corner flag was the turnaround. This lapse in concentration with a minute to go cost us. Serious."
Another wrote:
"He is also a City sympathiser like the refs"
Another fan tweeted:
"So pissed at Gabriel Jesus the back to back corners that lead to City equalizer all came from his stupidity messing around with Bernado Silva like why not just booted it upfield, he could be the Man to win Manchester City the title idiotic moment!"
Another added:
"Arteta also need to realise that Gabriel Jesus doesn't fit in into whatever plans he has for Arsenal. Jesus caused us the 3pts today. Clear the f*king ball away."
Another fan wrote:
"Am I the only one who feels aggrieved by Gabriel jesus? Mans had acres of space to clear the ball to but instead chose to waste time inside our own half at the corner flag, poor decision that ultimately cost us two points. Great job from the lads anyways."
Jesus, 27, has played just 18 minutes of Premier League football this season across three appearances.
Arsenal and Manchester City maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign
The two Premier League title rivals have had a good start to the 2024-25 campaign. Manchester City have beaten the Gunners to the title in the last two seasons and will hope to win their fifth consecutive title this season.
Manchester City began their season with a penalty shootout win over Manchester United in the FA Community Shield. They then beat Chelsea away 2-0, Ipswich Town at home 4-1, West Ham United away 3-1 and Brentford at home 2-1. They played out a goalless draw against Inter Milan at home in the UEFA Champions League before facing Arsenal.
The Gunners, meanwhile, beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 at home in their season opener before beating Aston Villa away 2-0. They then drew 1-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion before beating rivals Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 away. They also played out a goalless draw in the Champions League against Atalanta before their draw against City on Sunday.
Manchester City sit atop the Premier League standings, a point above Liverpool and Aston Villa and two points above Arsenal.