In a tightly contested clash at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal secured a historic 1-0 victory against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. Gabriel Martinelli, making his return to the pitch after a September absence, became the hero with his late deflected strike.

The atmosphere inside Emirates Stadium was electric from the kickoff, as both teams knew that the coveted top spot in the Premier League was up for grabs. Manchester City had the first sight of goal early in the match when Josko Gvardiol hooked a shot goalwards from a corner. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet.

However, Declan Rice came to Arsenal’s rescue by heading the ball off the line. The danger was not completely averted until Nathan Ake blazed his follow-up effort over the crossbar.

Arsenal had their own let-off when goalkeeper David Raya spent too long in possession, allowing Julian Alvarez to close him down. Raya’s attempted clearance narrowly missed the Argentine striker and the Arsenal goal.

Eddie Nketiah had a chance to put Arsenal ahead but flashed his effort wide of the target. The intensity of the match increased, and a contentious moment occurred when Mateo Kovacic’s late challenge on Martin Odegaard resulted in only a yellow card, despite a VAR review. Kovacic escaped further punishment when he committed a similar foul on Declan Rice shortly after.

Arsenal began to find their rhythm, and Gabriel Martinelli was introduced by Mikel Arteta in the second half after missing the last five games due to injury. Martinelli made an immediate impact, registering Arsenal’s first shot on target after being set up by Declan Rice. However, the angle was challenging, and the shot was saved.

With the pace of the game dropping and opportunities scarce, Arteta made a triple substitution in the final 15 minutes, bringing on Kai Havertz, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Thomas Partey. These changes would prove pivotal.

The winning goal came as a result of teamwork among the substitutes. A long pass from Thomas Partey was nodded down by Takehiro Tomiyasu into the path of Kai Havertz, who laid it off for Gabriel Martinelli. Martinelli’s first-time shot struck Nathan Ake’s face and wrong-footed Ederson before finding the net, sending Emirates Stadium into euphoria.

Arsenal’s defense held firm in the final minutes, securing an historic victory that ended their 12-match losing streak against Manchester City. The win also propelled Arsenal above Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League table, setting the stage for a potentially significant season ahead.

The international break will now see players joining their national teams for qualifiers and friendlies, but Arsenal will return to action on October 21 with a challenging away fixture against Chelsea in the Premier League, followed by a Champions League clash against Sevilla on October 24. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.