Gabriel Martinelli Secures Late Draw for Arsenal Against Manchester City
LONDON – Gabriel Martinelli struck a late equalizer for Arsenal, salvaging a 1-1 draw against Manchester City in a fiercely contested Premier League match. The goal, scored in the closing minutes, denied city a crucial victory and maintained Arsenal’s momentum in the title race.
The match saw tactical adjustments from both managers, with Mikel Arteta responding to a first-half deficit by introducing substitutes Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka at the interval. City, under pep Guardiola, later shifted to a defensive five-man backline and made the unusual substitution of bringing on Nico González for Erling Haaland, with Jérémy Doku moving into the No 9 position.
City had taken the lead, but Arsenal demonstrated increased urgency after the break, with Saka, Martín Zubimendi, and Eze all creating opportunities. David Raya proved pivotal, saving a shot from Haaland in the 57th minute.
As the game wore on, Arteta further committed to attack, switching to a 3-2-4-1 formation and bringing on Gabriel Martinelli – who had previously made a decisive impact off the bench in a 2-0 win against bilbao - and Ethan Nwaneri. Martinelli ultimately capitalized on the attacking push, securing a vital point for the Gunners.
