Gabriel Martinelli emerged as Arsenal's hero, securing a dramatic 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday with a stoppage-time equaliser. This marked Martinelli's second pivotal strike of the week, following his opening goal in Arsenal's 2-0 Champions League victory over Athletic Bilbao just five days prior. The late goal, a superb lob over City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, not only rescued a point for the Gunners but also prevented what many feared would be a sobering defeat against Pep Guardiola’s formidable side. Despite the hard-fought draw, Arsenal now find themselves five points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, who maintain a perfect record, while Manchester City are eight points off the pace.

The match began with Manchester City asserting their dominance early, as Erling Haaland broke the deadlock just nine minutes into the match. The Norwegian sensation, already in blistering form, initiated the move with a sweet reverse pass to Tijjani Reijnders in the centre circle before surging forward to receive the return ball and slotting it past David Raya and inside the far post. This marked Haaland's 13th goal in just eight games for club and country this season, and his fifth in seven league encounters against Arsenal, dismantling Arsenal's proud record of not conceding from open play this season. The home side appeared sluggish and scrappy in the opening stages, struggling to win possession and lacking sharpness in their passing, leading to growing anxiety among the Emirates crowd.

Pep Guardiola, surprisingly employing the same starting eleven for the third consecutive match – a rarity in his four-year tenure – initially saw his continuity pay dividends. However, as the game progressed, particularly after taking the lead, City adopted a notably pragmatic and ultra-defensive approach, resembling the 'dark arts' often associated with Jose Mourinho. Guardiola's men resorted to tactical fouling and time-wasting tactics, frustrating Mikel Arteta. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was a frequent offender, procrastinating over goal kicks and eventually receiving a yellow card for time-wasting in the 76th minute. In a bizarre moment that left fans baffled, Guardiola was also seen attempting to kiss fourth official Craig Pawson on the cheek during the game.

Mikel Arteta's initial team selection sparked groans among Arsenal fans, with Leandro Trossard preferred over Eberechi Eze or Martinelli on the left, and Mikel Merino understudying for the injured Martin Odegaard. However, Arteta swiftly corrected his initial misjudgment, making two crucial changes at half-time. Bukayo Saka, returning from a month-long hamstring injury, and Eberechi Eze were introduced in place of Merino and Noni Madueke. These substitutions immediately injected renewed vigor into Arsenal’s play, transforming a shoddy first-half performance into a brisker, more intent-filled display after the break. Meanwhile, Guardiola also made changes, replacing right-back Abdukodir Khusanov with Matheus Nunes at an undisclosed time, and later substituting Phil Foden for Nathan Ake, and eventually Haaland with Nico Gonzalez, transitioning to a back five to further solidify his defense.

Despite Arsenal's improved intensity, City's disciplined defense held firm for much of the second half. Opportunities arose for Arsenal, including a shot from Martin Zubimendi that went narrowly over the bar, and an Eze shot that Donnarumma pushed out. City, too, had a chance to extend their lead on a thunderous counter-attack, with Jeremy Doku sending Haaland clean through, only for David Raya to block his shot. Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres, a £63.5 million summer signing, remained largely anonymous, struggling to make an impact against City's robust defense, particularly in contrast to Haaland's 'beast mode' performance. Bernardo Silva also attracted ire for a late challenge and theatrics.

As the match neared its conclusion, and despite Guardiola's efforts to 'pull down the shutters,' Arsenal’s persistence paid off. In the third minute of added time, Eberechi Eze delivered a lofted pass over the City defense, which Gabriel Martinelli deftly latched onto. With a precise dink, Martinelli lifted the ball over the onrushing Gianluigi Donnarumma, sending it dropping inside the far post and securing a vital point for Arteta’s men. This was the first goal Donnarumma had conceded in his third appearance for City. Post-match, Guardiola acknowledged the resilience of his team and deemed the result fair, stating, "In general Arsenal were better." The draw, however, has significant implications for both teams' title aspirations, underlining the intense competition at the top of the Premier League table.