Gabriel Martinelli struck in the 95th minute to rescue Arsenal from defeat against Manchester City in a gripping Premier League showdown on Sunday.
The Brazilian’s late equaliser ensured the Gunners avoided a second loss to a title rival this season, following their earlier setback against Liverpool.
City had taken an early lead through Erling Haaland, who finished off a swift counter-attack after combining with Tijjani Reijnders. The Norwegian’s strike—his 12th goal in eight appearances for club and country this season—looked set to secure three points, but Pep Guardiola’s uncharacteristically defensive approach backfired.
With City clinging to their advantage, Guardiola made a series of pragmatic substitutions, including removing Haaland and reverting to a back five. The cautious setup invited pressure, and Mikel Arteta’s decision to bring on Martinelli ultimately turned the game.
The equaliser came when Eberechi Eze floated a clever ball behind Nathan Ake, allowing Martinelli to beat the offside trap and loft a delicate finish over Gianluigi Donnarumma, sparking jubilant celebrations at the Emirates.
Liverpool were the biggest beneficiaries of the north London stalemate, as their perfect start to the season left them five points clear at the top. Arsenal climbed to second, while City slipped to ninth after registering only two wins in their opening five league matches.
The draw also extended Guardiola’s winless run against Arsenal in league fixtures to five matches, his longest such streak against any opponent during his time in England. Despite voicing frustration over the scheduling of City’s Champions League tie against Napoli just before the clash, Guardiola named an unchanged side but ultimately saw his strategy unravel.
The contest was marked by intensity and occasional flashpoints, including a heated exchange between Bernardo Silva and Leandro Trossard, while Arteta’s tactical changes injected fresh urgency into Arsenal’s second-half performance.
What you should know
Gabriel Martinelli has become a decisive figure for Arsenal in key matches, and his late strike against City underlines his growing influence.
For Pep Guardiola, the result deepens City’s early-season struggles, with pressure mounting as Liverpool set the pace. Arsenal’s resilience keeps them in contention, but the result highlights both teams’ contrasting fortunes in the title race.
