FINALLY, at the 13th time of asking, Pep Guardiola’s mighty Premier League winning streak over Arsenal is over.
And after Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected late winner seized all three points for Mikel Arteta’s men, the Emirates faithful might start to believing that Manchester City’s grip on the title is beginning to loosen too.
ReutersGabriel Martinelli’s late strike secured a famous victory for Arsenal against Man City[/caption]
GettyThe Brazilian curled home to seal Arsenal’s first win over City in 15 years[/caption]
ReutersTreble winners City have now lost back-to-back games in the league[/caption]
City suffered a second consecutive league defeat, following last week’s loss at Wolves, as the absence of suspended midfield anchor man Rodri has been laid bare.
Arsenal, who deserved to win this tight, feisty encounter, are now level on points and goal difference with bitter rivals Tottenham at the top of the table.
They might have won it more convincingly had ref Michael Oliver not passed up two opportunities to send off City midfielder Mateo Kovacic in the first half.
But to defeat City after 12 straight league losses – especially in the absence of injured Bukayo Saka, felt like a landmark victory for Arteta’s side, who were pipped to the title by City having led the table for so long last term
City were almost ahead within five minutes when Josko Gvardiol hooked a shot goalwards but Declan Rice headed off the line before City worked the ball back into the box and Nathan Ake fired over from close range.
David Raya was soon under severe scrutiny. The Spaniard, controversially preferred to Aaron Ramsdale in recent weeks, had already been guilty of a couple of poor passes before an almighty blunder almost led to a goal.
Raya failed to control a pass from Gabriel Margalhaes close to his own goal line, then panicked and saw an attempted clearance canon off Julian Alvarez and into the side-netting.
Gunners fans were getting on the Spaniard’s back but soon trained their anger on ref Michael Oliver and his VAR.
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Kovacic committed a late, nasty challenge from behind on Martin Odegaard – one of those usually described as an ‘orange’.
Oliver showed yellow and VAR John Brooks refused to upgrade it to red.
Minutes later, City’s Croatian defender went in hard and late again on Rice and somehow escaped a second booking.
Arsenal were getting some joy in midfield, with Bernardo Silva – a surprise choice as the anchor man – being targeted.
Mateo Kovacic escaped a red card for a foul on Declan Rice thanks to a controversial VAR callRichard Pelham / The Sun
David Raya had a few nervy moments as Arsenal kept City at bayRichard Pelham / The Sun
Eddie Nketiah shot wide across goal when Ruben Dias, unusually rocky, had misjudged an Oleksandr Zinchenko through-ball.
When City went long and looked for Haaland, William Saliba was robust and canny.
The last time these clubs met in the league, Haaland had bullied Rob Holding. If Saliba had been for last season’s run-in, Arsenal might well be champions.
The first half had been feisty and frenetic but lacking in attacking quality.
GettyA heated clash saw Arsenal emerge as late victors[/caption]
Martinelli sent the Emirates wild with his fierce shotGetty
ReutersCity have lost back-to-back league games for the first time since 2018[/caption]
At the break, Arteta sent on Gabriel Martinelli for Leandro Trossard and the Brazilian was soon making mischief, zinging in crosses from the left and having a shot saved by Ederson at his near post – the first stop either keep had made.
Without creating much, Arsenal had bossed the early part of the second half and in response, Guardiola made a treble substitution, bringing on Jeremy Doku, Matheus Nunes and John Stones for Alvarez, Kovacic and Rico Lewis.
Stones moved into the holding role, with Bernardo sent further forward.
Arteta replied with a treble change of his own, bringing on Kai Havertz, Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
And all four of Arteta’s subs combined in the build-up for the winner – Partey picking out Tomiyasu with a long pass, the Japanese laying off for Havertz to find Martinelli.
The Brazilian lashed a shot towards the far corner but he struck Ake in the face, completing wrong-footing Ederson to send the Emirates into raptures.
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