{"id":8304,"date":"2025-09-22T02:39:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T02:39:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/gabriel-martinelli-saves-arsenal-and-denies-man-citys-smash-and-grab-victory-5-talking-points\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T02:39:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T02:39:29","slug":"gabriel-martinelli-saves-arsenal-and-denies-man-citys-smash-and-grab-victory-5-talking-points","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/gabriel-martinelli-saves-arsenal-and-denies-man-citys-smash-and-grab-victory-5-talking-points\/","title":{"rendered":"Gabriel Martinelli saves Arsenal and denies Man City’s smash and grab victory – 5 talking points"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n<\/p>\n
\n
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City: Gabriel Martinelli climbs from the bench to save the gunner’s point in time of injury after Mikel Arteta’s side is frustrated with the city’s defense<\/h2>\n
18:32, September 21, 2025<\/span>September 21, 2025, 18:50, updated<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Gabriel Martinelli got better after Arsenal<\/span>(Image: Alex Panling\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Gabriel Martinelli scored Arsenal’s injury-time goal to puncture a hole in Manchester City’s defensive masterclass, maintaining the Gunners’ Premier League title ambition. Erling Haaland’s early goal allowed Pep Guardiola to adapt his game plan before Late Twist changed everything.<\/p>\n
Haaland cleared the counterattack to advance City on the first shot of the game and calmly end the match from Tijani Rejunders’ pass. Having struggled to defeat the city’s defense, Mikel Arteta summoned Bukayo Saka and Ebebeki Eze from the bench at halftime.<\/p>\n
Gianluigi Donnarumma made strong saves from Noni Maduke and Eze, but Guardiola stripped off the players who were protecting the offensive players and continued to throw curveballs. It seemed to work before Martinelli threw a spanner on the piece.<\/p>\n
Eze’s ball above the top caught the cold of the city, and Martinelli made Donnaruma shine and scored points on his side. This is the topic of conversation.<\/p>\n
read more: Man Utd Star Amad removes all Instagram posts after repulsing controversial photos<\/span><\/span>read more: Roy Keene makes a dramatic Erling Haaland U-turn before the Man City Star responds perfectly<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
1. Haaland is inevitable<\/h2>\n
When the ball came to Reijnders, it felt inevitable. Arsenal committed too many players to try and get the ball, reaching five in a small pocket of space. City got the ball, gave Rayzinders, competed for the pitch and completed a perfect counter attack. As Gabriel Magalheis stepped on the water, Haaland became clear and he managed to finish off with his right foot, passing David Raya.<\/p>\n
His efficiency in front of goals is nothing new. In fact, don’t be surprised by Haarland’s current form. But now it seems like the Norwegians really can’t stop. His seventh goal in the sixth appearance of the season confirmed that we always know. Haaland is far the best goal scorer in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>ErlingHaaland needed only one target aim to score.<\/span>(Image: Glinkark\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
2. Functional, but lack of flare<\/h2>\n
Much of the pre-match chat at Sky Sports focused on Arsenal’s team depth, with Jamie Carragher in particular exploring the home side options on the bench. However, Arteta’s decision to stick to the functional trio of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in the middle gave Arsenal a clear problem after Haaland gave the lead to the away side.<\/p>\n
City sat on the low block and challenged the gunners to break them, but with no injured Martin Odegard there was little inventive ingenuity on the bench along with Eze and Ethan Nwanelli. Merino has physicality, but the ball has no flares. Arsenal’s reliance on set pieces helped to hide their difficulties by breaking deep defenses. The first half was a classic example.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Mikel Merino represented Arsenal’s struggle in the first half. <\/span>(Image: Glinkark\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
3. Arteta makes his move<\/h2>\n
Arteta became known as a cautious manager, but in a double change suggesting he admitted to making a mistake in the lineup, he placed the cards on the table at halftime by bringing in Saka and Eze for Madueke and Merino. The alternative quickly makes a difference, and Arsenal is much more dangerous from the late mouths.<\/p>\n
But what Arteta probably wasn’t expecting was a response from his former colleagues who tore his usual playbook to fight the Arsenal threat.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Eberechi Eze got off the bench at halftime<\/span>(Image: David Price\/Arsenal FC Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
4. Pep parks the bus<\/h2>\n
Pep Guardiola is the most influential manager of the present day, seeing another side to the city boss at Emirates Stadium. Guardiola, who played against his previous prot\u00e9g\u00e9, became a huge hit. Having an early goal, he took leaves from another modern great book and parked the bus.<\/p>\n
City sat deep, minimizing space, creating terrible fouls, spending time on goal kicks and making real efforts not to overcommit numbers to attack. In the 68th minute, the most obvious signs of Guardiola’s thought came, and Nathan Ake came to Phil Foden. City changed to a back five, essentially becoming a silent store, with Haaland replacing midfielder Nico Gonzalez in the 76th minute.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/span>Pep Guardiola defended ultra in the second half<\/span>(Image: Glinkark\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
5. Martinelli saves Arsenal<\/h2>\n
It was Martinelli who defeated them at the Champions League athletic club along with Torosad. And it was the quick Brazilian who did it again a few days later.<\/p>\n
City’s defensive line went to sleep, Eze’s long ball above the top caught them coldly, and Martinelli’s space ran. He exploited it completely and grabbed a big point for Arsenal. Arsenal was again losing to their title rivals 1-0 as they lost to Dominique Schbosilai’s free kick at Anfield.<\/p>\n
Join the new WhatsApp community and receive a daily amount of mirror football content. We also treat community members with special offers, promotions and advertising. If you don’t like our community, you can always check out. If you are interested, you can read the privacy notice.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
Sky Sports Discount Premier League and EFL Packages<\/p>\n
\n
This article contains affiliate links. You will receive sales commissions generated from sales. learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\u00a349<\/p>\n
\u00a335<\/p>\n
Sky<\/p>\n
Get the deal here<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Sky has significantly reduced the prices of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundles ahead of the 2025\/26 season, saving its members to \u00a3336, and offering over 1,400 live matches in the Premier League, EFL and more.<\/p>\n
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, showing an even greater increase of up to 100.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Arsenal's](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35940352.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2236594229.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Photographed](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35940016.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2236083388.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Arsenal's](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35940105.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_GettyImages-2236087429.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Arsenal's](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35940271.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2236590763.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Pep](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35940264.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2236092820.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Content](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33404045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
<\/div>\n