Jack Grealish confesses he almost was sent off in Manchester City’s crucial match against Arsenal, with only quick thinking rescuing him.
The England international winger scored a critical goal in the reigning champions’ 3-1 triumph against fellow title contenders at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Grealish’s goal came in the 72nd minute, 10 minutes after he was cautioned, and he confessed that he was on the verge of ripping off his shirt in frenzied celebration, which would have resulted in a red card.
Grealish later told reporters that he saved himself from suspension by making a vital contribution to City’s cause: “When I was celebrating, I was going to take my top off, but I realized I was on a yellow card!”
It was enormous.
It was a fantastic night for me.
That’s exactly what I’ve wanted to accomplish.
It meant a lot to me to get that one tonight, and I was ecstatic.
I knew Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan] was going to pass it at the moment.
If Erling [Haaland] was in that position…
I was attempting to cross again, but it felt like 10 seconds as it approached.
When it deflects in, I’m due one of these.”
Grealish’s strike did flick off Takehiro Tomiyasu, allowing the ball to bounce beyond Aaron Ramsdale’s outstretched arm, with the Gunners shooting themselves in the foot on a regular basis versus City.
“I don’t believe we played that well,” Grealish admits of Pep Guardiola’s team.
“I thought Arsenal played far better than us; I thought they were the better team.”
City’s victory in north London has moved them to the top of the Premier League standings, on goal difference and having played one more game than Arsenal, with Guardiola’s team beginning to shift gears as they pursue a fifth domestic title in six years.
