A stoppage-time goal from substitute Gabriel Martinelli earned Arsenal a 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, bringing a dramatic end to a curious game for both sides in the Premier League.
Haaland strikes early for City
Mikel Arteta was boosted by the return of William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, and Ben White, but the continued absence of Martin Ødegaard forced him to field a midfield trio lacking in creativity. The plan to stifle Man City backfired early, as the visitors scored with their first meaningful attack. Tijjani Reijnders found Erling Haaland on the edge of the box, and the Norwegian clinically beat David Raya to give his side a ninth-minute lead. For the remainder of the first half, City controlled the tempo, pressing high and frustrating their opponents, who struggled to create any consistent threat.
Arteta’s substitutes make the difference
Arteta introduced Eberechi Eze and Saka at halftime, leading to a more positive start for the Gunners. However, they still found it difficult to break down a resolute City defence, with Pep Guardiola content to reinforce his backline and protect the lead in a low block. The game appeared to be heading for a narrow away win until the fifth minute of stoppage time. Eze unlocked the City defence with a deft ball over the top, and fellow substitute Martinelli latched onto it, cleverly lobbing the onrushing Donnarumma to rescue a point.
While the point will feel like a victory for Arsenal given the circumstances, the real winner of the weekend is Liverpool, as this cagey stalemate between the two main title contenders saw both rivals drop points.