Arsenal have moved to to second, trailing rival Spurs only on goal scored

FA PREMIER LEAGUE 

ARSENAL 1 (Martinelli 86)
MAN CITY 0 

IT was thirteenth time lucky for the Gunners who out fought the all conquering treble winners in a deserved victory and rare clean sheet at the Emirates.

After a run of 12 consecutive defeats in the league against City, Arsenal sent out a statement that last season’s title challenge was no one off.

After the match, Mikel Arteta said: “It was a great feeling – it has been so many years without beating them.

“This is a fantastic group of players. I’m really proud.

“They were all dancing [in the dressing room]. They are super happy.

“You can just sense that we will go into the next game, Chelsea away, with the right spirit.”

The visitors looked out of ideas in the closing stages after being ground down by relentless pressing and solid defensive play.

William Saliba and Gabriel did not give Erling Haaland a sniff of goal in a match when City were restricted to four shots.

Last year’s big man was involved in angry scenes at the end as squabbling City players departed down the tunnel with the stadium in full party mode.

Arsenal sit joint top with north London rivals Spurs who have identical points and goal difference after eight games.
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Martinelli’s shot took a deflection and beat the keeper

Gabi Martinelli, on at half time after coming back from injury, scored the late winner with a massive deflection off the face of Nathan Ake.

It set up a horrendously stressful finale – but City had looked there for the taking with 15 minutes to go.

Arteta said: “He [Martinelli] had been saying for two weeks he would be ready for City. It is a joy to have him because he can change the game.”

Much of the game had felt like a chess match between two identical twins, cancelling each other out.

In the first half there was a passage of crunching tackles flying in and few players were afforded any time on the ball.

Arteta said: “They change shape constantly. You have to be really aware to what they are doing.”

Mateo Kovacic was lucky to stay on the field after fouling Declan Rice just after picking up a yellow card for a studs up stamp on Martin Odegaard that looked like a clear straight red.

The VAR took a long look at the first foul, but decided Michael Oliver’s choice of yellow was the correct decision.

There were just three shots on target in the whole match, a close encounter but a win that Arsenal fans will feel was fully deserved.

David Raya had looked like a liability in the first half with some terrible distribution and shaky passes out.

There was a goal-line save from Rice in the first two minutes that was followed by a glaring missed from Ake, who blasted well over the bar.

It had been a nervy atmosphere before kick off, particularly after the team sheet showed Bukayo Saka was not in the squad.

He will miss the England match against Italy due to injury, Arteta said.

Captain Martin Odegaard put in a shift but it was Gabriel Jesus who was Arsenal’s best player.

He was relentless hunting down his old teammates and providing a strong presence on the right wing.

Leandro Trossard was also back in the starting line up, but he was replaced by Martinelli at half time.

In Arsenal’s best chance for the first half, Eddie Nketiah got himself into a great position but shanked his shot well-wide.

He got the whole stadium on its feel a few minutes later after busting a gut to chase down Kyle Walker with a powerful tackle.

The Kovacic yellow card led to a passage of dirty play from the treble winners, with Jesus next to be bundled to the floor.

The visitors had been wise to all Arsenal’s normal moves, blocking out the one twos and triangles down the wing.

But triple substitution made the difference – the returning Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz – on for Nketiah – and Tomiyasu filling in for Zinchenko, who also didn’t put a foot wrong.

As the minutes ebbed away, it seemed likely a goal would only come from a set piece or a wonder strike.

In the end if was a big deflection.

After the match, City manager Pep Guardiola said: “Congratulations for Arsenal.

“We defended really well. It is what is is. I don’t have the ability to change it.”

Asked whether there was anything he didn’t like about his team, he said: “Nothing.”

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, Gabriel, White, Zinchenko (Tomiyasu 75), Rice, Jorginho (Partey 75), Odegaard, Trossard (Martinelli 45), Nketiah (Havertz 75), Jesus 
Subs not used: Ramsdale, Rowe, Kiwior, Vieira, Nelson. 

City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Kovacic (Nunes 67) , Haaland, Alvarez (Doku 67), Silva, Guardiol, Foden, Lewis (Stones 67)
Subs not used: Ortega, Phillips, Grealish, Doku, Gomuez, Akanji, Nunes, Bobb.

Attendance:  60,233