Key stats
- Gabriel Martinelli has been directly involved in four Premier League goals against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City (two goals, two assists), more than any other Arsenal player since 2016/17 (Guardiola's first season)
- Arsenal have scored in their last nine Premier League home games
- Manchester City have lost five points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, only Brentford (eight) have lost more
Highlights
Analysis
Arsenal's William Saliba completed more touches than any other player on the pitch (113), as well as completing 96 per cent of his attempted passes (95/99).
Erling Haaland picked up his sixth goal of the season in the Premier League.
Arsenal were the dominant side throughout the match, finally seeing their pressure pay off in the dying embers.
Match report
The hosts started positively and looked to play the ball behind Pep Guardiola’s backline, but they found themselves behind just nine minutes into proceedings.
After a scramble for possession in Man City’s half, Erling Haaland popped the ball off to Tijjani Reijnders and flew up the pitch to get it back, before beating David Raya for an 11th goal in six matches for club and country.
While Arsenal came forward as they looked to recover, the Citizens stood firm defensively and continued to carry a threat, with Reijnders seeing his shot saved by Raya.
The visitors’ approach was largely pragmatic, though, as they took their time getting the ball back into play – much to the frustration of the Emirates’ home support – and often ensured they dealt with Arsenal’s set-pieces.
There was still a warning when Gianluigi Donnarumma’s punch on a Declan Rice corner was unconvincing as William Saliba headed over.
In open play, meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori sent an attempt over and Noni Madueke’s venomous strike was saved as the Gunners showed plenty of intent before the break.
Mikel Arteta went for it straight from the restart by bringing on Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, and a cross from the former saw the ball fall to Martín Zubimendi for a chance that he sent marginally over the crossbar.
Both substitutes had also hit a shot inside seven second-half minutes, but there was a scare at the other end as Haaland’s shot was saved by Raya and Eze’s attempted clearance hit Rice but bounced over the crossbar.
Leandro Trossard was then denied as Arsenal continued to assert themselves so much that Guardiola resorted to bringing Phil Foden and Haaland off for Nathan Aké and Nico González.
Much of the late play was essentially attack against defence, but the defence won time after time, with Calafiori heading over and hitting a speculative shot off target.
On the one occasion it didn’t, Martinelli punished the Citizens by latching onto Eze’s ball behind and dinking his effort over Donnarumma to inspire rapturous celebrations in the Etihad Stadium, with the goal keeping the second-placed Gunners three points ahead of Man City.
While it may not be a defeat for the Citizens, it will undoubtedly be a significantly disappointing blow after they had come so close to victory.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City)
Post-match comments
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice to Sky Sports: "We've gained respect of the opposition - they know the quality we have from front to back.
"We passed and moved well in the first half and in the second, but there was always the threat on the counter.
"In the end, we deserved the goal and would have been disappointed to come away losing."
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports: "Hats off to the team for their resilience.
"We played against United, then in the Champions League on Thursday and now today against an opponent who are so powerful in all aspects.
"It is so difficult when you are not effective in the high pressing or in the build-up. I think the result is far. In general, Arsenal were better.
"The togetherness in the three games since the transfer window has been top. We defended incredibly well at corners.
"Yeah, we take that point. Of course, we have to improve, but after five games in the Premier League, it is what it is."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports: "I'm very proud of the team, I must say. We dominated them, and I'm very disappointed with the result.
"We started really well, dominant again, playing in their half, and we didn't allow them to breathe.
"But in one action, that is very chaotic, there's a duel there, we lose it, and they find themselves three versus two in space, and they're lethal there. They finished the action with quality.
"After that, we had five shaky minutes, and we had to reset mentally because it was so unfair to concede the goal with what we were doing. But after that we dominated again.
"There are always things we can do better.
The way we delivered the cross to the defensive organisation afterwards, we made it a bit easy for them. But the speed, execution, quality - you have to congratulate the opponent."