Substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored the only goal of the game for Arsenal in the 86th minute against Manchester City.
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Arsenal have blown the Premier League title race wide open after ending their barren run against Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side registered a late 1-0 win over the defending Premier League champions at the weekend. Notably, it was Arsenal’s first league victory over City since 2015. The Gunners are now level on points with leaders Tottenham Hotspur in the table. These two are the only unbeaten sides still remaining in the league.
Substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored the only goal of the game for Arsenal in the 86th minute against Manchester City on Sunday. After the massive win over the Premier League champions, manager Mikel Arteta was over the moon. “A great feeling obviously, you could sense it’s been so many years without beating them and today we have beaten in my opinion without a question of a doubt the best team in the world, and we’ve done it in a great way. There were moments we had to suffer, but as well moments we showed real determination, desire and belief to beat them, so really happy,” he was quoted as saying by Arsenal.com after the match.
He added: “Certainly sends a message to the team, keep believing in what they are doing, they are a fantastic group of players, the way they try, the understanding, the chemistry that they have between them you sense it and you need it to beat that, today again really proud, I was proud on Wednesday when we lost the game, and I am really proud again today as well to be part of that team.”
Arteta then shifted his attention to the goal scorer. At one point, it was not clear whether Gabriel Martinelli would be fit for the game. However, he came from the bench to score the late winner on Sunday. “He’s been saying for a few weeks that I was going to be there for City. Obviously, we were saying that Gabi it would be too early for you, and yesterday he said, “boss I told you, I’m going to be ready for this.” And it happened after 30 minutes Leo felt something in his hamstring. So, when I turned around, he was already ready, to go with his kit, and saying “boss, I’m ready to go”. He’s just got the joy of a kid, his mentality is incredible at his age, and it’s just a joy to have him because today he could change the game and he was really helpful for us to win,” he explained.
Asked about controlling emotions in big games, the manager replied, “Yes and especially because they are moments that are constantly in question, asking questions and provoking you. The crowd wants you to go and go and go, and it’s what the crowd they do, the crowd do that and we don’t go, and we have to manage that. We have to understand emotionally it’s not easy, it’s not easy to chase 15, 20 passes and you have to be able to do that and then have the courage to play. You don’t want to play against this team that just gives the ball to them every single time and I thought the players were excellent.”
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