Breaking: Arsenal deliver first big blow to Manchester City….beat title rivals 1-0

Gabriel Martinelli stepped off the bench and slammed in a late winner for Arsenal as they beat Premier League title rivals Manchester City 1-0 at a euphoric Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The brilliant Brazilian winger had missed the last five matches with injury but gave Arsenal added impetus when he came on at half-time – and then grabbed a dramatic clincher with just four minutes of normal time remaining.

 

Kai Havertz set the ball back and Martinelli fired at goal. A deflection off Nathan Ake did for Ederson and secured a first win for Arsenal over Manchester City in the league since December 2015. Their terrible streak in the league against City had seen them lose the last 12 – but could this be a historic victory in the race for this season’s crown?

 

Arsenal – nervy in the early stages – were badly missing injured talisman Bukayo Saka for much of this contest but Martinelli stepped up and delivered a huge blow. The Gunners go into the international break level on points with neighbours Tottenham at the top of the table.

As for Man City, they are just two points back but consecutive league defeats for the first time in five years suggests the treble holders may be more vulnerable than in previous campaigns.

Arsenal will see the result as justice delivered after Mateo Kovacic somehow avoided a red card in the first-half. He was shown a yellow card for a tackle which saw his studs collide with Martin Odegaard’s ankle and then received no further punishment for a similar foul on Declan Rice six minutes later.

That decision seemed set to be the major talking point from a tense afternoon in north London. But Martinelli changed the narrative and fired-up Arsenal’s Premier League title dream.

Details later…