Premier League chaos live: Arsenal stun City as Haaland misfires again

Arsenal rip through Man City in a wild Premier League showdown while Haaland fires blanks – and one huge VAR call has everyone losing it.

Kick-off! As of today, 2026-02-28, the pitch is on fire... If you were hunting for football results today and somehow missed Arsenal’s insane win away at Manchester City, stop everything. This was pure chaos: goals, missed sitters, VAR drama, and a title race that just got turned upside down.

Let’s dive into the biggest talking point in world soccer news right now: City 1–3 Arsenal at the Etihad – a Premier League live blockbuster that absolutely delivered.

City 1–3 Arsenal – Title Race Earthquake

Arsenal came to the Etihad like a team possessed. Mikel Arteta’s side pressed high, sprinted in packs and ripped into City from the first whistle. And it didn’t take long for the fireworks.

15’ – Gabriel Jesus silences the Etihad
Bukayo Saka roasted Nathan Aké down the right and whipped in a filthy low cross. Manuel Akanji hesitated for half a second, and that’s all Gabriel Jesus needed – he ghosted across the front post and smashed it past Ederson. 1–0 Arsenal, and the away end absolutely exploded.

32’ – VAR drama: Haaland denied
Erling Haaland thought he’d dragged City level. Kevin De Bruyne floated in a teasing free-kick, Haaland bullied William Saliba in the air and powered a header into the top corner. The stadium went wild… for about 20 seconds. Then came the dreaded check.

VAR zoomed in on Haaland’s positioning, and the lines on the screen showed his shoulder just ahead of the last defender. Offside. Goal chalked off. The boos were deafening, and social media instantly melted down. This was the moment that flipped the mood of the whole game.

41’ – Phil Foden to the rescue
City did find a response before the break. De Bruyne, once again the conductor, slid a gorgeous through ball between Saliba and Gabriel. Phil Foden timed his run perfectly, chopped back onto his left foot and curled it into the far corner. Aaron Ramsdale had no chance. 1–1, game on.

Second-Half Mayhem: Saka & Ødegaard Take Over

After the break, Arsenal looked like they’d had rocket fuel in the dressing room.

58’ – Saka from the spot
Kai Havertz – who quietly had one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt – drew a clumsy foul from Rúben Dias in the box. VAR checked it, but this time the Gunners got the call. Penalty confirmed.

Bukayo Saka stepped up under massive pressure and sent Ederson the wrong way, tucking it low into the bottom right. 2–1 Arsenal, and Saka’s ice-cold once again.

73’ – Ødegaard with a captain’s screamer
The goal that’ll be replayed all week. Arsenal worked a slick move down the left – Zinchenko into Havertz, Havertz lays it off, and Martin Ødegaard arrives on the edge of the box to absolutely lash a left-foot rocket into the top corner. The away fans went ballistic, Arteta sprinted down the touchline, and City’s heads dropped. 3–1, statement made.

Big Names: Heroes & Flops

• Erling Haaland (Man City): Massive flop by his standards. Had the disallowed goal in the first half and then missed a brutal sitter from six yards on 65’. Looked frustrated, isolated, and kept glancing at the ref. This isn’t the unstoppable Haaland we’re used to.
• Kevin De Bruyne (Man City): City’s best outfield player. Grabbed the assist for Foden’s goal, created two more big chances, but you could see the frustration as the forwards wasted his service.
• Phil Foden (Man City): Took his goal brilliantly, but faded as Arsenal’s press suffocated City’s midfield.
• Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): Hero. Torched City’s left side all game, scored a pressure-cooker penalty, and tracked back like a madman. Premier League top scorers today? He’s right in that conversation.
• Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal): Pure class. Dictated tempo, linked everything, and that screamer for 3–1 was world-class. Captain’s performance, simple as that.
• Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal): Scored the opener, pressed like a demon, and made life miserable for Dias and Akanji.

What it Means for the Football League Table

This isn’t just a big win; it’s a potential turning point in the title race. With this result, Arsenal jump above City and crank the pressure up on the rest of the pack. City suddenly look human at home, while Arsenal look like a team that actually believes they can take the Premier League crown.

What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings

Other Key Football Results Today

While the Etihad was stealing the headlines, there was action all over Europe’s top leagues and Champions League chasers making statements.

Liverpool 2–0 Newcastle
At Anfield, Liverpool kept their own title push chugging along. Mohamed Salah was back on the scoresheet, burying a left-footed finish on 27’ after a slick one-two with Darwin Núñez. In the second half, Núñez crashed in a low drive on 69’ to make it 2–0.

Salah looked sharp, constantly buzzing around the box and linking play – very much hero mode. Núñez, meanwhile, showed the good side of his chaos: aggressive runs, relentless pressing, and a clinical finish. Liverpool’s clean sheet keeps them firmly in the hunt, and the football league table just got even tighter.

Champions League chase – Spurs edge a thriller
Tottenham grabbed a late 3–2 win at home in a wild, end-to-end game, with Son Heung-min bagging a brace and a late winner. Son’s first was a trademark curling strike from the edge of the area, and his stoppage-time tap-in sent the stadium into meltdown. That result keeps them right in the fight for the Champions League spots.

Social Media Spotlight

The internet is basically a war zone right now, and it’s all about that Haaland offside and Ødegaard’s thunderbolt.

My Take: Are City in Trouble?

I’m just going to say it: this felt like a power shift night. City looked tired, short of ideas, and totally stunned every time Arsenal cranked up the tempo. Haaland looks nothing like the ruthless machine from last season, and when he’s off his game, suddenly City look beatable – especially against a fearless side like Arsenal.

On the flip side, Arsenal looked mature. They didn’t just nick a result; they controlled huge spells away at the champions. Saka and Ødegaard played like genuine world-beaters, and Gabriel Jesus showed exactly why Arteta trusted him for these big stages.

In my opinion, if City don’t fix their attacking rhythm fast, this could be the season where someone finally rips the title out of their hands. Right now, on form, Arsenal and Liverpool both look better balanced and hungrier.

What’s Next?

With every round, the Premier League live drama is getting nastier. One week City look untouchable, the next they’re being picked apart. Arsenal’s win tonight will echo across every dressing room in the league – if they can do that at the Etihad, nobody is safe.

And remember, the Champions League news is only going to crank the pressure up further when midweek fixtures start to pile in. Squad depth, injuries, rotations – all of that is about to matter more than ever.

Check full stats & standings now

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