With an ultra-defensive performance so unlike a team coached by Pep Guardiola, City came close to holding out against Arsenal for the most unusual of wins in a Premier League match between the two title contenders on Sunday.
Then, in the third minute of stoppage time, Eberechi Eze played a ball over City's packed defence and substitute Gabriel Martinelli latched onto it before lobbing goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to snatch a 1-1 draw.
"We've obviously gained the respect of the opposition," Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said. "We probably haven't dominated a game against Man City as we did today."
Actually, no-one has.
The 32.8% average possession by City is the lowest by a Guardiola team in a top-flight match, according to statistics supplier Opta.
Rice noted City went to a 5-4-1, adding: "I've never seen them do that."
Back to his prolific best, Haaland made it 13 goals in eight appearances for club and country this season by sprinting upfield and collecting a return pass from Tijjani Reijnders to slot home a finish in the ninth minute.
The Emirates Stadium was then treated to a defensive masterclass from the visitors as Guardiola, famed for cherishing possession, set up City to let Arsenal have plenty of the ball and defend deep. He kept putting on defenders to protect the lead.
It almost worked, except for the late twist by Martinelli, who has become something of a supersub for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta this season.
"We don't try to come and be like this," Guardiola said of his tactics. "But when the opponent is better and we defend deeper and we have Erling and Tijjani, we can use the counterattack, yes.
"But our intention is not like this. I would prefer to not do it but you cannot expect at this level to not do it. It's impossible."
The result left Liverpool, the defending champions, with a five-point lead after just five games, with Arsenal in second on goal difference over Tottenham and Bournemouth.
City are already eight points off the pace and showing they're willing to shake up the team's tactics deep into Guardiola's tenure.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa ended their goal drought but still couldn't win at 10-man Sunderland as they came away with a 1-1 draw.
Matty Cash blasted a swerving shot from 25 metres that Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs could only parry into his own net in the 67th minute, Villa's first goal after five games in the league.
But Sunderland, playing with 10 men from the 33rd minute after Reinildo's red card for kicking out at Cash, equalised in the 75th through Wilson Isidor to leave Villa without a victory and in third-to-last place.
Newcastle rotated their team after a Champions League loss to Barcelona on Thursday and struggled to create many clear-cut chances in a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.
It meant Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who used to coach Bournemouth, has now not beaten his former side in seven attempts.
Bournemouth were seeking a fourth-straight win after an opening-round loss at Liverpool and were unable to take advantage of Newcastle making seven changes to the team defeated 2-1 by Barcelona.
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