PLAYER OF THE MATCH – GABRIEL MARTINELLI (ARSENAL) RATINGS 7/10 GOT THE BETTER OF ERLING HAALAND IN A NUMBER OF ONE -ON ONE DUELS AND LOOKED ASSURED ON THE BALL

Arsenal 1-0 Man City: Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected strike clinches important win over Premier League title rivals

 

Match report and highlights as sub Martinelli secures late win for Arsenal over Man City; Gunners go level on points with Tottenham at top of Premier League, City in third two points back; Mateo Kovacic fortunate to avoid first-half red

 

 

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – GABRIEL MARTINELLI (ARSENAL)

Got the better of Erling Haaland in a number of one-on-one duels and looked assured on the ball as well, which could not be said for all of his team-mates. Haaland took zero shots, which reflects how well Arsenal and in particular Saliba marshalled him.

 

PLAYER RATINGS

Arsenal: Raya 4, White 5, Saliba 8*, Gabriel 7,

Zinchenko 7, Rice 5, Jorginho 6, Odegaard 5, Trossard 5, Jesus 6, Nketiah 5. Subs: Martinelli 7, Partey 6, Tomiyasu 6, Havertz 6.

Man City: Ederson 6, Walker 6, Dias 6, Ake 6, Gvardiol 6, Kovacic 4, Lewis 6, Bernardo 5, Foden 5, Alvarez 5, Haaland 5. Subs: Nunes 5, Doku 5, Stones 6.

Gabriel Martinelli stepped off the bench and slammed in a late winner for Arsenal as they beat Premier League title rivals Manchester City 1-0 at a euphoric Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The brilliant Brazilian winger had missed the last five matches with injury but gave Arsenal added impetus when he came on at half-time – and then grabbed a dramatic clincher with just four minutes of normal time remaining. A perfect moment to score his first league goal of the season.

Kai Havertz set the ball back and Martinelli fired at goal. A deflection off Nathan Ake did for Ederson and secured a first win for Arsenal over Manchester City in the league since December 2015. Their terrible streak in the league against City had seen them lose the last 12 – but could this be a historic victory in the race for this season’s crown?

Arsenal – nervy in the early stages – were badly missing injured talisman Bukayo Saka for much of this contest but Martinelli stepped up and delivered a huge blow. “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.

As for Man City, they are just two points back but consecutive league defeats for the first time in five years 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 and were far from their fluid best here.

Declan Rice had to clear an early Josko Gvardiol shot off the line but City created little else. They will hope to go up a gear when they get injured Kevin De Bruyne and suspended Rodri back.