Gabriel Martinelli struck deep into stoppage time to earn Arsenal a 1-1 draw against Manchester City in a tense Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The visitors had looked on course for victory after Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Linking up with Tijjani Reijnders from inside his own half, the Norwegian raced through before slotting the ball beyond goalkeeper David Raya.
Pep Guardiola’s side then defended their lead with discipline, frustrating Arsenal throughout the first half. The Gunners created little before the interval, with Noni Madueke denied at the near post by Gianluigi Donnarumma in their only clear chance.
Mikel Arteta introduced Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze after the break, with the latter almost equalising through a fierce half-volley. City responded through Haaland again, but Raya blocked his angled drive as the match hung in the balance.
Leandro Trossard went close, and Jeremy Doku threatened for City, but the turning point came in the third minute of added time. Dropping deep, Eze clipped a perfectly timed ball over City’s defence, and Martinelli, who had come on in the 80th minute, lifted it over Donnarumma with a composed finish.
The result leaves Arsenal second on the log, five points behind leaders Liverpool after five matches. City sit ninth, three points further back, after a performance that saw them retreat into their defensive shell once Haaland was replaced late on.
Arteta praised his team’s resilience, saying his players “dominated almost every aspect of the game” despite the missed chances. Guardiola accepted the outcome, noting that Arsenal “were better” on the day but insisted his side would take the point and regroup ahead of a busy week.
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