Manchester City supporters worldwide would have found another reason to cherish John Stones after he scored the all-important equaliser to help his side earn a 2-2 draw against Arsenal.
Stones replaced Kyle Walker in the 78th minute while Jack Grealish came on for Savinho.
Considering Manchester City were in need of a goal at the time, Pep Guardiola’s decision to bring on a centre-back might have raised plenty of eyebrows at the Etihad Stadium.
However, the £47.5 million man was at the right place and at the right time to tap the ball in after Mateo Kovacic’s initial effort fell into his path.
The Englishman made no mistake and sent the Etihad Stadium into a frenzy.
The second half was one that was frustrating for Pep Guardiola and his side.
Stones reveals Guardiola instructions before Man City equaliser against Arsenal
Arsenal set up to defend deep and secure a 2-1 victory for themselves after being down to 10 men after Leandro Trossard’s red card.
The onus was on the hosts to capitalise on their one-man advantage and get over the line.
However, the Gunners defended extremely well and made it a massive challenge for City to get back in the game.
The Sky Blues continued to take shots from distance and put crosses into the box but to no avail.
It seemed like all hope was gone and Mikel Arteta’s side were set to take home a famous win at the Etihad Stadium.
However, Stones emerged as the hero for Manchester City, discussing the advice Pep Guardiola gave him when he brought him off the bench against Arsenal.
The 30-year-old told Sky Sports: “I came on and tried to be inside the box. One dropped to me and I put it in the back of the net.”
“Pep [Guardiola] wanted me to play closer to Erling [Haaland], higher up in the pitch to get more crosses in. Not really [has he ever said that before]. It’s so interchangeable, everyone plays in pockets.”
John Stones’ goal could be the difference between Man City and Arsenal in Premier League title race
As things stand, Manchester City remain two points above Arsenal after having played five Premier League games.
It is too early to predict which out of the two sides will go on to win the league after their battle on Sunday.
However, if Manchester City do manage to win their third league title in a row, if the title race goes down to the wire like last season, Stones’ goal could be remembered as the difference between where the coveted trophy heads.
Much like when the former Everton defender’s heroic goal-line clearance in Manchester City’s 2-1 win against Liverpool in the 2018/2019 season — which saw Pep Guardiola beat Jurgen Klopp to the title by one point.
Only time will tell whether Stones’ strike has such an unforgettable impact on both clubs’ title fates.
