Man City and Arsenal look ready to go the distance again in Premier League after 2-2 draw

On this evidence, Arsenal and Manchester City look ready to go the distance again in the Premier League. Whether Mikel Arteta can finally get the better of Pep Guardiola is still unknown.

A 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday showed Arsenal can certainly go toe-to-toe with the four-time defending champion — but it also confirmed City's powers of resilience after dominating English soccer for the past six years.

“Still we have this passion, this fire inside ourselves," Guardiola said after John Stones rescued a point with an equalizer in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

Arsenal has been runner-up to City in each of the last two years — setting new benchmarks along the way — but still coming up short.

Arteta was Guardiola's former assistant at City and now stands as his biggest threat.

On Sunday his team looked like snapping City’s 47-game unbeaten home run, despite being down to 10 men for the entirety of the second half after Leandro Trossard was sent off in first-half stoppage time.

But Arsenal’s resolve was finally broken by substitute Stones, who swept in from close range in the final moments.

“Obviously, it is already a miracle we played 56 minutes at the Etihad with 10 men. It is unbelievable what we have done," said Arteta, who was incensed when Trossard was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

“I’m expecting 100 Premier League games this season to play 10 against 11 or 10 against 10 or nine against 10, let’s see,” Arteta said.

City was defending an unbeaten home run dating back to a 2-1 loss to Brentford in November 2022. Arsenal was within moments of its first victory at City since 2015 after Gabriel Magalhaes’ first-half header had put the visitors 2-1 up.

Stones' late leveler was in keeping with a game packed with intrigue and incident.

Erling Haaland reached a landmark when putting City ahead in the ninth with his 100th goal for the club in 105 appearances — firing past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

That later felt like an aside as the home fans began to resign themselves to a rare defeat on home soil.

Influential City midfielder Rodri had left the field in the 20th after appearing to hurt his right knee. The Spain international limped off and his departure proved a turning point as Arsenal leveled just two minutes later through Riccardo Calafiori’s curling effort from outside the area.

Magalhaes then headed the visitors in front from a corner in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, having come close from an almost identical routine shortly before.

There was still time for another pivotal moment before the break when Trossard was sent off.

With a numerical advantage, City dominated the second half but looked like being frustrated by Arsenal's stubborn defense and some impressive saves from Raya.

Stones, a center back who sometimes operates in midfield, was brought on and Guardiola instructed him to join Haaland in attack.

“He wanted me to play closer to Erling, get higher up the pitch so when we got crosses in we could start to win more aerial duels,” Stones said.

It paid off.

“Over the years we have learned as a team to stick together, no matter who is playing and to always be ready," Stones added.

The draw ended City’s 100% winning record in the league season, but left it a point ahead of second-place Liverpool and Aston Villa in third.

Arsenal is two points off the leader in fourth.

Arteta said his players were “really gutted” in the locker room after seeing victory snatched away so late.

“But, as well, they know that they have made another big step today," he said.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler and Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo were sent off in a bad-tempered end to their teams' 2-2 draw.

The dismissals were triggered by Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White being shown a second yellow card in the 83rd at Amex Stadium for a reckless challenge on Joao Pedro.

That sparked angry reactions on the sidelines, with Espirito Santo and Hurzeler both shown red by referee Robert Jones for what the Premier League described as “unacceptable technical area behavior.”

Forest stunned Liverpool with a 1-0 win at Anfield last weekend and it took the lead Sunday through Chris Wood's penalty in the 13th minute. Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck gave Brighton a halftime lead with goals in the 42nd and 45th. Ramon Sosa leveled the game in the 70th.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal's Gabriel reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta, left, gestures as he stands on the touchline next to Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland, right, and Ruben Dias remonstrate with referee Michael Oliver during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Arsenal players react after Manchester City's John Stones scored an equaliser in the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland has a disagreement with Arsenal's Gabriel during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's John Stones, center, celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's Rodri reacts to an injury, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola shouts out from the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola shouts out from the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Arsenal's Gabriel scores his side's second goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Arsenal's Gabriel, center, celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Arsenal's Gabriel celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester City's John Stones, center, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, left and Brighton and Hove Albion's Pervis Estupinan vie for the ball, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Nottingham Forest, at the American Express Stadium, in Brighton and Hove, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)

Brighton and Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck celebrates after scoring his side's second goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Nottingham Forest, at the American Express Stadium, in Brighton and Hove, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo gestures, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Nottingham Forest, at the American Express Stadium, in Brighton and Hove, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)

Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, second right, protests after being shown a red card by referee Robert Jones, during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Nottingham Forest, at the American Express Stadium, in Brighton and Hove, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Malik Willis ran for a touchdown and threw for a score in his best performance in the NFL, leading the Green Bay Packers to a 30-14 rout of the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Willis not only won his second straight start subbing for Jordan Love, he got a sweet measure of revenge against the team that traded him to Green Bay (2-1) in August. Willis accounted for 134 of the Packers' 137 yards in the first quarter. He finished with 202 yards passing and 73 rushing.

Cornerback Jaire Alexander scored a touchdown on his first career pick-6 late in the first quarter, helping Green Bay jump out to a 17-7 lead after 15 minutes. The Packers led 20-7 at halftime and ultimately scored 20 straight points for a 27-7 advantage midway through the third, prompting a loud chant of “Go, Pack, Go!”

The Packers had eight sacks, their most since getting eight at Chicago on Jan. 2, 2005. They also forced three turnovers.

First-year coach Brian Callahan has the the Titans (0-3) off to their worst start since losing the first six in 2009. Tennessee, which got a seventh-round pick for Willis after trading the 2022 third-rounder out of Liberty, has lost 21 of 27 overall.

Green Bay scratched Love before the game, giving him another week to heal his sprained left knee. Willis, with coach Matt LaFleur's play-calling, made sure the Packers had no issues. The quarterback showed the Titans what they gave up when they stuck with Will Levis as their starter and Mason Rudolph as his backup.

Levis threw two TD passes, one to Nick Vannett and the other to DeAndre Hopkins.

The 33rd pick overall in 2023 out of Kentucky has eight turnovers in three games, including two interceptions returned for TDs. When Callahan took a timeout and sent the offense back in for the punt team, Levis was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-2 to start the third quarter.

Tennessee's defense forced its first three-and-out after Hopkins' TD pulled the Titans within 27-14. Levis drove the Titans to the Green Bay 31 but was sacked two plays later by Kingsley Enagbare. Lukas Van Ness recovered the fumble near midfield.

That sent Titans' fans streaming for the exits on a steamy afternoon.

Green Bay came in leading the NFL with five interceptions and six takeaways. Now they have seven picks through three games, matching their total from all of 2023.

Packers: TE Tucker Kraft aggravated the shoulder injury that had him limited in practice.

Titans: CB Chidobe Awuzie hurt a groin muscle early and didn't return. S Amani Hooker came off the field holding something to his right temple at the 2-minute warning and did not return.

Packers: Host Minnesota next Sunday.

Titans: Visit Miami and another backup quarterback in prime time on Monday, Sept. 30.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Green Bay Packers place kicker Brayden Narveson kicks a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans' DeAndre Hopkins gets past Green Bay Packers' Eric Stokes and Xavier McKinney for a touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Green Bay Packers' Jaire Alexander returns an interception for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Green Bay Packers' Emanuel Wilson celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titan head coach Brian Callahan reacts to a call during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love watches before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Green Bay Packers' Kingsley Enagbare celebrates a sack during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Tennessee Titans' Will Levis is sacked by Green Bay Packers' Kingsley Enagbare (55), Rashan Gary (52) and Edgerrin Cooper (56) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Green Bay Packers' Malik Willis throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Green Bay Packers' Malik Willis runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)