Match Report & Player Ratings: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

A first-half Erling Haaland goal was cancelled by an injury-time Gabriel Martinelli stunner as Manchester City and title rivals Arsenal shared the spoils at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.

Pep Guardiola named an unchanged starting XI – from City’s midweek UEFA Champions League win over Napoli – for only the third time in the Spaniard’s nine-year managerial spell at the Etihad Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s men dominated possession for the entirety of the game as City attacked on the break, relying on the in-form attacking trio of Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland to cause damage at the other end.

City have looked the part in front of goal since the international break and broke the deadlock with a cutely crafted team goal on the counter-attack just under 10 minutes in – as Haaland coolly slotted home after being teed in by summer signing Tijjani Reijnders.

Noni Madueke was Arsenal’s best player in the first-half and came closest to testing Manchester City’s new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who didn’t have much to do before the interval despite a few nervy moments on the ball.

Arsenal brought on Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka at half-time, with City replacing the injured Abdukodir Khusanov – who was brilliant at containing Leandro Trossard in the first-half – with Matheus Nunes.

The hosts kept the pressure on and came close to levelling a few times in the second-half, with Donnarumma rising to the occasion and City defending as a team to try and maintain a clean sheet. It was not to be, however.

In the third of seven added minutes, Arsenal substitute Gabriel Martinelli saw off Josko Gvardiol to pick up a delicious lofted ball from Eze over the City backline and chip the ball home over a stranded Donnarumma, who decided to exit his six-yard box and saw his clean sheet wiped as a result.

Here are the ratings from the draw in north London on Sunday evening.

Starting XI

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 6/10

Was set to receive a 7.5 rating but showed great misjudgement for Martinelli’s late goal by stepping out of the six-yard box to be chipped for the leveller. Should have done better for the rich experience he has.

Abdukodir Khusanov – 8/10

City’s best defender since the international break by a country mile. Assured, physical, dominant and pulls no punches. Unfortunate to go off at half-time with what looked like an ankle injury.

Ruben Dias – 7/10

He has his shaky moments but commanded a backline in what was a very solid defensive performance for City, especially considering the visitors successfully defended a one-goal lead for over 80 minutes.

Josko Gvardiol – 6.5/10

Failed to follow Martinelli for Arsenal’s injury-time goal but Donnarumma was also heavily to blame for City failing to pick up all three points. Solid otherwise and did a fine job to help O’Reilly deal with Madueke and Saka throughout.

Nico O’Reilly – 7/10

Having bullied Bryan Mbuemo in the Manchester derby, O’Reilly was given a greater challenge against the likes of Madueke and Saka on Sunday but he did well and though Arsenal posed their greatest attacking threat from their right wing, O’Reilly never looked out of his depth.

Rodri – 7/10

Calm, assured and still getting back to his best.

Bernardo Silva – 7/10

His work in winding up half of the Arsenal squad caught the eye as he picked up a yellow card following an altercation with Leandro Trossard in the first half. Workhorse as ever, Silva set the tone for City from the off and ran his socks off.

Tijjani Reijnders – 7/10

One of his better performances of late as he set up Haaland for the opener and made some decent strides forward with the ball in the second-half as City soaked the pressure and kept Arsenal away from their half.

Phil Foden – 7/10

No star moments as such but there is value in seeing Foden start three games in a week. He’s looked sharp of late and is back playing with a smile on his face – that’s all that matters for now.

Jeremy Doku – 8.5/10 (MOTM)

Absolutely incredible, he’s clearly worked on his end product and fitness over the summer because Doku is improving significantly with every start and after starring against United and Napoli this week, he terrorised Arsenal’s defence from start to finish with countless runs and strides into the Gunners back.

Erling Haaland – 8/10

Should have put away a glorious chance made by Doku in the second-half, which would have put the game to bed but did score effortlessly after 10 minutes to round off a ruthless team counter. Seven goals in his first six games of the season. Not bad, eh?

Substitutes-

Matheus Nunes – 7.5/10

Nunes has his flaws when defending but he provided an assured outlet at right-back for City in a very demanding and exhausting half of football.

Nico Gonzalez – 7/10

Helped to keep the one-goal lead intact and drove forward when he could. He was at no fault for the goal conceded.

Nathan Ake – 6.5/10

Bombed forward after City conceded and helped man the gates when City were still leading, though he was in part at fault for the injury-time leveller.

Savinho – N/A

John Stones – N/A