Arsenal have handed Arteta his next challenge as Man City hoodoo finally ended
Finally Arsenal have done it. Finally they have broken Manchester City’s stranglehold.
It was a scrappy, hard fought win and was hardly a classic but that will not matter in the slightest for Mikel Arteta. The Emirates celebrated a huge victory - to finally end City’s run of 12 straight wins over Arsenal in the Premier League - which should also put an end to Arsenal’s mental block against the reigning champions.
This was more of a statement than a memorable performance and the challenge now is for Arteta to make sure this is a turning point for Arsenal. It has to be the win that gives them the belief that they can overhaul City in the Premier League title race and that they are good enough to go all of the way this time.
Gabriel Martinelli was on as a half-time substitute, his shot still needed a big deflection off Nathan Ake to fly into the net and the decisive moment only came late on after 86 minutes of forgettable football. But the noise was then overwhelming. City boss Pep Guardiola was furious on the touchline, there was a touchline bust-up as players left the pitch at the final whistle and it all kicked off.
That is because City are not used to losing - not in big title-defining games. Especially not to Arsenal. Incredibly, this is the first time City have lost back-to-back games in the Premier League since December 2018.
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And both were without midfield kingpin Rodri which is no coincidence because they rely on him so heavily. His replacement, Mateo Kovacic, was lucky not to be sent off for an X-rated challenge on Martin Odegaard.
City just have not found top gear yet this season and maybe that is to do with a combination of losing Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne is out injured for the long term and they lost Ilkay Gundogan in the summer. Arsenal, in contrast, dug deep and battled even if they also lacked a bit of quality in the final third which maybe is no surprise as Bukayo Saka did not even make the squad let alone the starting line-up.
The levels of kidology were such that Saka even turned up with the rest of the Arsenal squad, kit bag under his arm and Arteta tried to fool his old mentor Guardiola into thinking the England winger would make it right up until the last. Arsenal missed him sure enough. They were miles off at the start which says so much about the inferiority complex they have whenever they play City.
Gabriel Martinelli fired a late winner for Arsenal to send the Emirates into raptures (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Gunners keeper David Raya only added to the nerves with a jittery display, City forward Julian Alvarez closed him down and nearly deflected the ball into the net. Kovacic should have seen red for an over-the-top tackle on Odegaard. It was checked by VAR but referee Michael Oliver’s original yellow stood. Kovacic was lucky not to get a second yellow for another foul soon after for catching Declan Rice.
Maybe that sense of injustice fired up Arsenal and their fans. Martinelli, who had only just returned to training, came on at half-time for the ineffective Leandro Trossard and then added some much-needed pace.
The game still did not catch light. Erling Haaland was anonymous. William Saliba played him brilliantly. City did not carry much of a threat. Arsenal would never have a better chance of beating their great nemesis.
Finally the moment arrived. All four of Arsenal’s substitutes combined as Thomas Partey played the ball forward, Takehiro Tomiyasu knocked it on, Kai Havertz laid it off and Martinelli’s shot deflected off Ake and into the net.
The roof came off the place. Arteta had beaten Guardiola for the first time in his managerial career. And it felt like a big moment for Arsenal.
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