Arsenal drew with Manchester City in a hard-fought Premier League game, thanks to a stoppage-time equalizer from substitute Gabriel Martinelli.
Martinelli has made an impact off the bench for the second time in a row, after scoring and assisting against Athletic Club in the Champions League in midweek.
Following Tuesday’s success in Bilbao, Arteta stated that his “finishers could be more important” than the starting XI, and that conviction was reinforced at Emirates Stadium.
On Sunday, the Gunners fell behind in the ninth minute after Erling Haaland rolled past David Raya following a blistering City counterattack.
Arsenal battled for an equalizer for much of the second half and was rewarded with Martinelli’s dinked finish in the 93rd minute.
Arteta picked a midfield three of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino, and the Gunners struggled to produce any noteworthy chances before the break, much to the frustration of the home crowd.
Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka, who had returned from hamstring injuries, were introduced at the start of the second half, and the hosts immediately began to play with greater vigor.
Zubimendi fired just over from the edge of the box, and Eze pushed Donnarumma into a great stop as Arsenal sought a leveler.
However, City continued to threaten on the counterattack, with Belgium winger Jeremy Doku serving as their primary outlet.
In the closing stages, City manager Pep Guardiola replied to Arsenal’s threat by switching to a back five as the visitors attempted to maintain their lead.
However, Martinelli grabbed onto Eze’s injury-time through pass and lifted his effort over the onrushing Donnarumma, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Arteta is currently the only manager to have gone five games unbeaten against Guardiola in his managerial career.
The Gunners came into this game fresh off a stunning win in Bilbao, when the substitutes’ bench made the difference—and it was the ‘finishers’ who saved a point on Sunday.
Arsenal spent £250 million this summer, giving Arteta plenty of options when things don’t go his way, but his team selection in critical games will be crucial if the Gunners are to win a trophy this season.
After starting with the same central midfield (Zubimendi, Rice, and Merino) as in midweek, it was evident early in the first half that Arsenal needed more attacking flair on the field.
The same trio also started the 1-0 loss to Liverpool, prompting criticism of Arteta’s conservative attitude when facing some of their opponents.
The home fans in the stadium got increasingly irritated with their team’s lack of inventiveness, despite Noni Madueke’s efforts, who was the most dangerous player in the first half.
Arteta brought on Eze and Saka at the break, and the impact was apparent, as Arsenal upped the ante and managed to pen City in for lengthy spells.
Martinelli has had an amazing week, scoring two crucial goals in two games following a rough period in his career.
However, Arteta will continue to face questions about why his team cannot begin matches in the same manner in which they have finished the last two.
City’s world-class striker Haaland is in amazing form, and it appeared that his efforts would be enough to win the game until Martinelli’s late intervention.
The 25-year-old leads the league’s scoring statistics with six goals in five games, having also scored in the Champions League on Thursday and six more for Norway in recent international fixtures.
City’s early goal on the counterattack demonstrated the ruthlessness that Guardiola’s team will need this season, but dropping two points places them eight points behind leaders Liverpool.
The champions are top and have won all five of their games so far, so it was critical that City, who have already lost twice, did not drop any points and lose ground early in the season, but they were unable to complete the task at Emirates Stadium.
Haaland began and finished the play for their goal, recovering the ball in his own half, exchanging passes with the galloping Tijjani Reijnders, and scoring low past Raya’s grasp.
In the first half, City pressed Arsenal high up the pitch and forced mistakes, with Reijnders nearly increasing the lead but having a low shot saved by Raya.
Guardiola was content to sit back and try to finish the game in the second half, opting for a 5-5-0 configuration with Nathan Ake as an additional defender and replacing Haaland with holding midfielder Nico Gonzalez.
However, with time running out, substitute Martinelli’s exquisite finish salvaged a draw that will leave neither City nor the Gunners content, as an ominous-looking Liverpool side leads by five points after as many games.
