Martinelli’s Late Strike Denies Guardiola’s Defensive Gamble
It was one of those games that carried tension right up until the final whistle. Manchester City looked like they had found a way to grind out three crucial points at the Emirates, but Arsenal had other plans. In the third minute of stoppage time, Gabriel Martinelli, fresh off the bench, produced a stunning lob that rescued a 1-1 draw for the Gunners. The roar from the home crowd told the story: relief, joy, and perhaps even a sense of justice, given how the match had unfolded.
City had taken the lead early, and unsurprisingly, it was Erling Haaland who delivered the opener. Just nine minutes into the contest, the prolific striker did what he does best—sharp movement, clinical finish, and the visitors were in control. Up until then, it seemed City were prepared to fight fire with fire, but as the minutes ticked by, Pep Guardiola made a bold, some would say uncharacteristic, tactical shift.
Instead of the usual fluid, possession-dominant style that defines his teams, Guardiola pulled his men deeper and deeper. By the second half, City were set up in a 5-5-0 shape—yes, without a single striker on the pitch after Haaland was withdrawn. The decision, he later admitted, was influenced by fatigue. His squad had been through a punishing schedule, including a hard-fought Champions League opener against Napoli. Tired legs demanded pragmatism, and for 92 minutes, it looked like the gamble would work.
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But football can be cruel in its timing. Arsenal kept probing, controlling nearly 70% of possession, even if clear chances were scarce. Then, almost out of nowhere, substitute Eberechi Eze found space to lift a ball over City’s high line. Martinelli latched onto it and clipped a delightful finish over Gianluigi Donnarumma. The stadium erupted. What had seemed a near-certain City win was snatched away in a heartbeat.
Guardiola’s frustration was plain to see. At full-time, he applauded the travelling fans but his body language—slumped shoulders, a slow walk down the tunnel—spoke volumes. He later praised his team’s resilience but admitted that fatigue forced him into a defensive approach rarely seen from a Guardiola side. With only 32.8% possession, it was the lowest recorded for him in more than 600 league games.
For Arsenal, the draw felt like a moral victory. Mikel Arteta’s men dominated most aspects of the game and maintained their unbeaten run against Guardiola, now stretching to five league encounters. Still, Arteta himself was disappointed, noting that his side created enough dominance to deserve all three points. He pointed to the need for better service to new striker Viktor Gyökeres, who barely had a sniff of goal.
The broader picture is even more intriguing. Liverpool, with their perfect record, were the true winners of the weekend, pulling five points clear at the top. City’s return of just seven points from five games is their weakest start in nearly two decades. Arsenal, though still chasing, showed again why they remain genuine contenders.
In the end, Guardiola’s defensive gamble almost paid off—but Martinelli ensured it didn’t. And in a title race as unforgiving as this one, that single late moment could prove costly.
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