Gabriel Martinelli produced a moment of late brilliance to rescue Arsenal from defeat, scoring a stoppage-time equaliser that sealed a dramatic 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.
The thrilling Premier League clash saw Erling Haaland fire City ahead inside the opening 10 minutes, but just when it looked like Pep Guardiola’s men would walk away with all three points, Martinelli’s composed finish in added time snatched a crucial point for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Haaland gives City the edge early on
City started on the front foot and took control almost immediately. In the 9th minute, Haaland capped off a sweeping move that he had himself initiated. The Norwegian striker exchanged passes with Jeremy Doku before racing into the box and clinically slotting past David Raya to make it 1-0.
It was Haaland’s 13th goal of the season, and it set the tone for much of the first half. The Arsenal defence struggled to cope with his movement and physicality, while City’s midfield dictated the tempo. Arsenal, meanwhile, looked sluggish and disjointed, with Arteta’s bold starting lineup choices leaving them exposed. Viktor Gyokeres failed to trouble the City backline, and summer signing Mikel Merino was frequently caught in possession.
Guardiola, meanwhile, showed his intent by naming the same starting XI for the third match in a row, something he had not done in four years. The continuity paid off, with City looking fluid and sharp across the pitch.
Arteta’s halftime changes spark revival
The Gunners were in desperate need of inspiration, and Arteta responded at the interval by bringing on Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze. The impact was instant. Saka’s crossing ability and energy stretched City’s defence, while Eze’s composure and creativity added a new dimension to Arsenal’s attack.
Within minutes, Arsenal carved out opportunities. Martin Zubimendi went close with a long-range effort, and Eze forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a sharp save. The Italian goalkeeper, making his Premier League debut for City, looked confident but was kept busy throughout the second half.
Despite Arsenal’s resurgence, City remained dangerous on the counter. Doku’s pace proved a constant threat, and he almost doubled the lead when he set up Haaland for a one-on-one. However, Raya produced a brilliant stop to deny the striker a second goal. Guardiola then reacted by shifting to a more defensive setup, introducing additional cover at the back as City sought to protect their narrow lead.
Martinelli’s stoppage-time heroics
Just when it seemed Arsenal would leave empty-handed, the Emirates erupted. Deep into stoppage time, Eze spotted a gap in City’s backline and floated a perfectly weighted ball over the top. Martinelli latched onto it and, with incredible composure, dinked the ball over Donnarumma to level the score at 1-1.
It was not only Arsenal’s first real breakthrough of the evening but also the first goal Donnarumma had conceded in a City shirt. The Emirates crowd roared in relief and celebration as Martinelli wheeled away in jubilation, having snatched a vital point against their title rivals.
The draw leaves both teams still firmly in the Premier League title race, but the manner of Arsenal’s comeback will give Arteta’s men a huge psychological boost heading into the next round of fixtures.