Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic late winner as Arsenal earned a 1-0 victory over defending Premier League champions Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.
The Gunners experienced a sweet moment of vindication at the Emirates Stadium after suffering 12 straight league losses at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s team.
Martinelli’s shot took a significant deflection off City defender Nathan Ake with just four minutes remaining, setting off wild celebrations as Arsenal defeated the treble winners for the first time since December 2015 with a victory in the top flight.
In the Community Shield in August, Arsenal had defeated City on penalties, but that victory in the opening game of the domestic campaign could not be taken as seriously as this outcome, which could be crucial.
Unbeaten Arsenal now sits in second place, two points ahead of third-placed City, who now trail Tottenham on goals scored.
After their 2-1 loss at Wolves last weekend, City has now dropped two straight league games for the first time since December 2018.
With the loss to Newcastle in the League Cup, City has now lost three of their last four games.
It is a rare sign of weakness from a team that won its first six games of the season in its quest for a fourth straight championship.
Few will anticipate that City will give up without a fight, but Guardiola has problems to address as he attempts to reenergize a group that may have lost some zeal following their treble victory.
Arsenal is not lacking in desire for championships as they attempt to forget the bitter taste of blowing an eight-point lead late in the season to finish second, five points behind City.
This week, Guardiola claimed that Arsenal “are back” as a serious domestic rival to City as a result of the wise leadership of his former assistant Arteta.
The title race experienced an early plot twist as a result of Arteta’s substitutions, and for once, Guardiola lost the tactical battle with his protégé.
After Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya misjudged a cross, City came dangerously close to taking the lead in the opening five minutes when Josko Gvardiol’s lunging effort was cleared off the line by Declan Rice.
Nathan Ake of City should have scored from close range after Arsenal narrowly avoided scoring, but the defender wastefully shot over.
As Raya took too long to react to Gabriel’s back pass, Julian Alvarez was able to close the custodian down and deflect his frantic clearance just inches wide for the second time in the first 20 minutes.
When he cut inside the City area and curled wide of the far post, Eddie Nketiah made an effort to calm Arsenal’s nerves.
Martin Odegaard, the captain of Arsenal, frantically waved his arms to the crowd, ratcheting up the volume before Mateo Kovacic heated things up.
Following a VAR review for a potential red card, Kovacic crunched through the back of Odegaard’s ankle and was given a booking.
If Arteta was upset that Kovacic wasn’t dismissed for that challenge, the Arsenal manager was furious when the Croatian avoided receiving a second yellow card after chopping down Rice.
After a sluggish first half, Arsenal came out swinging in the second.
After sprinting onto Rice’s pass, Martinelli, a halftime replacement, forced Ederson to make a save at his near post.
Guardiola substituted John Stones, Jeremy Doku, and Matheus Nunes after becoming frustrated with City’s clumsy performance, but the changes had no noticeable effect.
But Arteta responded in a brilliant way by bringing in Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz.
As the half wore on, City appeared satisfied with a point after creating few chances, but Arsenal persisted and eventually scored in the 86th minute.
Havertz received a long pass from Partey, who then passed it to Martinelli on the edge of the box, where the Brazilian struck with another powerful shot.
