Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected strike was enough to earn Arsenal all three points in a hard-fought clash against reigning champions, Manchester City.
With the game drifting towards a goalless draw, the Brazilian produced a moment of magic in the final few minutes to clinch the spoils for the hosts in a nervy game that saw few clear chances for either side.
The victory sent Arsenal up into second place, level on points and goal difference with league leaders Tottenham, who scraped past newly-promoted Luton on Saturday.
While it’s always worth remembering that no title is ever won in October, it was a result that felt hugely significant for the Gunners – the first time under Mikel Arteta that they had managed to get the better of Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League.
And while it was a narrow victory in an especially tight, tense match, it was a victory nonetheless and a moment that could act as a springboard for Mikel Arteta’s side as the league table starts to take shape.
I must confess, I wasn’t especially confident heading into the game as the team was announced and it became apparent that Bukayo Saka had failed to recover in time from his hamstring strain. While there was good news in the shape of the returning Martinelli, he started this one from the bench – meaning a front three of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah.
For all the battling qualities and determination of that particular trio, they lack the sort of pace and width provided by those they had been brought in to replace, and that was worrisome.
While the Gunners weren’t exactly terrible in the opening half, their play was stodgy, slow and fairly easily contained by City. And while neither side was on top, City did produce a few moments they will look back at ruefully as good opportunities.
It was clear a change was needed at the break, not necessarily from a defensive perspective because the Gunners were excellent, but mainly because of the paucity of chances created at the business end of things.
An injury to Trossard meant the introduction of Martinelli and he gave the City full backs something to think about with his pace, directness and willingness to take on his man.
As the half wore on, it became clear that Arsenal were getting on top of things and Erling Haaland cut an isolated figure up front, unable to affect the game with his running and physicality. That allowed the Gunners to grow more ambitious and the introduction of Kai Havertz, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey for the last quarter signalled their intent.
It was the Japanese’s excellent knock down for Havertz that saw the ball find its way back to Martinelli and, subsequently, into the City net. Cue pandemonium.
City never really had a response and, in truth, huffed and puffed for most of the second half. The continued absences of Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri are clearly taking their toll.
That remains a problem for Pep to solve, however. Arteta can revel in a hard-fought, intelligent win, with pretty much all of his stars producing on one of the season’s biggest stages. We head into the international break at peace.
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