Recap

Martinelli’s Last-Gasp Equaliser Denies Man City as Gunners Rescue 1-1 Draw at Emirates

Emirates Stadium, London — Arsenal snatched a dramatic injury-time equaliser through Gabriel Martinelli to deny Manchester City all three points, forcing a 1-1 draw in a tense Premier League clash on Sunday night. City’s early strike from Erling Haaland looked like it might be enough, but the Gunners stayed alive until the final whistle. Reuters+2Al Jazeera+2

How the Game Unfolded

City stunned the home crowd inside ten minutes when Haaland finished off a sharp counterattack, orchestrated by Tijjani Reijnders, to give the visitors an early lead. Reuters+1 Arsenal struggled for rhythm in the opening period, unable to carve out clear chances as City defended with intensity. Al Jazeera

After the break, Arsenal came alive. Manager Mikel Arteta made strategic substitutions, introducing players like Eberechi Eze, which injected energy into the side. Arsenal pushed forward repeatedly, dominating possession and creating chances, though City absorbed the pressure by switching to a defensive setup. Reuters+2Al Jazeera+2

Dramatic Finish

As stoppage time ticked away, Arsenal earned their reward. Substitute Eze played a clever ball over City’s back line, and Martinelli timed his run perfectly before lobbing Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 93rd minute. The long-range finish sent the Emirates into raptures. Reuters+1

Implications & Reactions

• Arsenal remain unbeaten at home in this fierce rivalry, and the draw edges them closer to the top of the table, though they lost ground on leaders Liverpool. Reuters+1

• Manchester City, despite showing tactical discipline and resilience, will rue the defensive concession in injury time. Their possession stats were notably low, perhaps reflecting a strategy to absorb pressure and counter, rather than dominate. Reuters+1

• The late drama underscores Arsenal’s fighting spirit, while City’s ability to remain defensively solid keeps them in the title conversation, though there will be lessons to take about holding on. Al Jazeera+2Give Me Sport+2