Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City: Martinelli rescues a point for Gunners in added time | OneFootball

Gabriel Martinelli spoiled Manchester City’s party with a late equaliser at the Emirates Stadium, securing Arsenal a point.

City took the lead early through Erling Haaland, but Arsenal dominated possession from then on.

It looked as though their dominance would be in vain until the 93rd minute, when Martinelli broke blue hearts and rescued a point in North London.

As it happened

Mikel Arteta’s side started as they would go on, keeping the majority of the ball in the opening 10 minutes, but struggling to fashion clear-cut chances.

When a goal came, it wasn’t an Arsenal one. The opportunity for a Manchester City breakaway arrived and they took full advantage, as Tijjani Reijnders drove forwards with Jérémy Doku to his left and Haaland to his right. In the end, he opted to play through the Norwegian and he did the rest, slotting the ball past David Raya with his ‘weaker’ right foot.

In years gone by, Pep Guardiola’s side would’ve dominated possession from then on out, but not this time. Instead, Arsenal continued as they had begun, keeping virtually all of the ball and forcing their visitors onto the back foot.

They didn’t quite convert possession into chances, though, largely forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma to parry away a slew of crosses. In fact, their biggest real opportunity of the half came in added time, when Noni Madueke – who had been lively all half – forced the Italian into a smart save with a shot destined to nestle into the near post.

They did create slightly more in the second half. Madueke was hooked for Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze also came on for Mikel Merino in hopes of revitalised attacking output.

The latter tested Ederson five minutes into the half, but not before Martin Zubimendi fired over the bar from the edge of the area.

City could even have doubled their lead soon after: Haaland had seen an effort denied by Raya, but Eze’s attempted clearance spun off Declan Rice and narrowly cleared the crossbar of his own goal.

From then on, it was all Arsenal, but still, shots were scarce: a Riccardo Calafiori header over the bar was about as close as they came within the 90 minutes.

Finally, though, three minutes into added time, they scored the goal their possession had promised. Two substitutes combined, with Eze sending a ball over the top which deceived City’s stubborn backline at last. Latching onto it was Martinelli, Donnarumma in no man’s land, the Brazilian able to delicately dink the ball over him and into the back of the net.

Cue a raucous Emirates response and a point staying in North London. This was a tie so far departed from the Manchester City to whom we’ve become accustomed that it was they who were hanging on to their lead. Come the final whistle, Arsenal felt vindicated.

City’s inconsistent start to the season continues: Arsenal’s pursuit of Liverpool has also started slowly. The Gunners sit five behind the league leaders, who will view this draw as a sixth win of their own.

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