LONDON. Just over a week ago, Gabriel Martinelli had a hard time finding his role in Arsenal.
Now everyone knows that he is the rescuer in need.
Gabriel Martinelli looked up at the sky and closed his eyes hard. Possibly dumbfounded after a week as a rescuer in need.
The more seasons that have passed, the clearer it has become that the development of the brass has stood still. In addition, when the qualitative new acquisitions began to roll into Arsenal, he suddenly had to settle for a bench site.
But perhaps this is the perfect role for Martinelli: to come in when the team is stuck and time is running out.
He did it in Bilbao on Tuesday, he did this on The Emirates – in the 93rd minute.
And which way the receipt target came into being. Eberechi Eze hit the pass in depth against Martinelli, who lifted the ball spectacularly over goalkeeper Donnarumm.
Losses against both Liverpool and Manchester City during the first five rounds had shaken Arsenal’s confidence in the hunt for the title.
Now the red -white supporters are leaving the arena in relatively good courage, even though they mostly gave off annoyed sounds this afternoon.
Pep was inspired
On the other hand, it was a feeling that many of the players, as well as the coach, seemed to share with the audience.
Mikel Arteta is often referred to as Pep Guardiola’s disciple – but today it almost appeared that the master was inspired by the former.
At the end of the first half, full calabalism arose in the arena, an incident that testified about Arsenal’s mood.
Leandro Trossard fell to the ground after a pass, signed Bernardo Silva, met him in a sensitive area. While he was left to catch his breath, the ball again appeared in the same region, since Silva “happened to” drop it.
Trossard’s reaction – to throw back the ball with a view to the opponent’s own jewels – probably channeled all his frustration.
The teammates came running. The audience roared dissatisfied.
Erling Haaland, who stood just outside the cluster, shouted:
– Just play!
Although Manchester City liked to pull down the tempo, the light blue players probably felt that most went their way so far, while the seconds ticked on.
The early management goal already after nine minutes was a completely exquisite transition that Haaland both started and ended. An unusual situation for Arsenal, given that the team has let in a total of three counter -goals throughout 2025.
Gyökere’s hard to assert themselves
Then one of the major problems for Arsenal was that the opponents defended compact, with the Phil Foden as an extra right back as he followed every step Riccardo Calafiori took.
Another concern was that the Artetas gang often lost the physical match, not least Trossard in the fight with the much heavier Khusanov.
Viktor Gyökeres also had a hard time asserting himself in the penalty area against City’s center slopes, Gvardiol and Dias.
In other words, it was like seeing Arsenal watching a lead.
Add to that Manchester City has never registered a lower ball possession under Pep Guardiola (33 percent).
At least an obviously enriched Arteta waited too long before he acted, even though the first half was completely thrown away. Here, creative changes were required to break down City’s sharp defensive.
Arsenal supporters cheered appreciatively when Bukayo Saka’s name was called out in the speakers. At the expense of Noni Madueke, one of the spikes in the first half.
Seemed to end ideas
The fact that midfielder Mikel Merino was picked up for Eberechi Eze – who, in the name of honesty, should have started – signaled that Arteta wanted the speaks to continue to broaden, while more creativity was added centrally.
Everything to tear apart City’s well -organized backline.
The away team managed to survive the initial period of pressure, and when Calafiori pulled away a shot twenty meters from the cross, Arsenal seemed to end ideas.
That was before Gabriel Martinelli stepped forward. Before The Emirates exploded one last time.
A loss for Arsenal had meant a six -point lead for the reigning champion Liverpool in the table – a team that has not even convinced very much yet, but probably learns to do so as soon as the many new acquisitions find each other better (including Alexander Isak).
However, this did not prevent Arteta from being both snuggled and wordy after the match.
The coach learns to worry that the match picture did not become as he wanted, that his old champion limited him. But one point is better than nothing.
