By Samuel A. October 8, 2023
Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected effort in the 86th minute of the game gave Arsenal a very much needed 1-0 win over title rivals Manchester City, making it the first time they’ve won against the Manchester Club since their 2-1 win in 2015. The brilliant Brazilian winger had missed the last five games prior due to injury, but gave Arsenal momentum when he came on at half time, and then capped it all with a perfectly timed goal with just four minutes of normal time remaining. Kai Havertz set the ball back and Martinelli fired at goal, which Ederson looked to have been alert for the strike, just before the deflection off Nathan Ake that put the ball out of reach and secured a first win for Arsenal over Manchester City in the league since December 2015.
The Gunners were nervy in the early stages, badly missing injured talisman Bukayo Saka’s mojo for most of this contest but Martinelli stepped up and delivered a huge blow to Man City. “It feels like a big win,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta afterwards.
The unbeaten Gunners go into the international break level on points with neighbours Tottenham at the top of the table.
The defeat in London makes it two consecutive league defeats for the first time in five years for the club, and probably suggests the treble holders may be more vulnerable than in previous campaigns. They’ve now lost in both the Community Shield and Premier League to Arsenal.
The reigning champions came close, with Josko Gvardiol’s shot which was cleared off the line by Arsenal’s Declan Rice, but City created little else. They will hope to go up a gear when they get injured Kevin De Bruyne and suspended Rodri back. Mateo Kovacic somehow escaped being red carded in the first half after dangerously tackling Declan Rice when he was on a yellow card for a tackle which saw his studs collide with Martin Odegaard’s ankle. That decision seemed set to be the major talking point from a tense afternoon in north London, but Martinelli changed the narrative and fired up Arsenal’s Premier League title dream. The past week had been filled with debate and discussion about VAR and match officials and they were back in the spotlight in this huge clash.
Arteta in his post match conference said : “I love the courage Arsenal showed. So proud. It was the moment with the right people and the right players. We knew we would have to suffer and we did that. You need a big performance and the crowd too. It feels like a big win. I think the way we started we conceded the corner and then we gained some control and in the second half we started really good. We were there and really aggressive. The changes helped as well. The quality they produced in the goal was top. City give you a lot of problems and we gave them a lot of issues as well. It is not easy to get out. You need the right timing, the right movement, the right moments. I like the courage. You are going to have these hard moments against this team. You have to be direct and manage the emotions and make sure you don’t get caught against this team.”
On the other hand, Man City boss Pep Guardiola: “We started really well with two or three chances. They started the second half really well with the rhythm. Then it was tight and they got a deflection goal. They won, congratulations to them. We tried. We did it. I think from both sides there was not a lot of chances. I think both teams did good high pressing. It was tight and in the end, one action, we lost the game. Ten minutes was like that, Arsenal on top and after it was equal. We had also our moments but in general it was a tight game. Unfortunately they did it”.
“We can lose in Wolves as well. Now we have two defeats in a row and then we have the internationals. Hopefully they come back fit and then we go again. Maybe it is a little bit better to be there and see what we have to do to catch them and then we will when we come back. We will come back and continue. We will move forward.”
Arsenal face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the league on Saturday October 21 after the international break, while Man City host Brighton in the league on Saturday October 21.
