HomeFootball NewsArsenal End Man City Hoodoo With Vital Win

Arsenal End Man City Hoodoo With Vital Win

-

Arsenal brought an end to their 12-game Premier League losing streak against a lacklustre Manchester City side, clinching a well-deserved 1-0 victory in front of an ecstatic Emirates crowd on Sunday afternoon.

With Bukayo Saka unable to recover in time for the crucial clash, Arsenal lined up with Leandro Trossard, Eddie Nketiah, and Gabriel Jesus in their attacking lineup, while Jorginho was chosen over Kai Havertz in the midfield.

Meanwhile, City’s rising star, Rico Lewis, earned a starting spot after his impressive performance against RB Leipzig. The champions immediately tested a visibly nervous David Raya, with the Spanish goalkeeper needing Declan Rice to clear Josko Gvardiol’s goal-bound effort off the line within six minutes. Twelve minutes later, Julian Alvarez charged down Raya’s clearance, resulting in the ball narrowly missing the target and finding the side netting.

Arsenal eventually managed to ease the pressure on their shaky goalkeeper, and City midfielder Mateo Kovacic narrowly avoided a red card for a studs-up challenge on Martin Odegaard. VAR reviewed the incident, ultimately deciding that Michael Oliver’s yellow card was sufficient. However, Kovacic was lucky not to receive a second yellow card just four minutes later for another late challenge on Rice.

This sense of injustice spurred Arsenal, who finished the first half stronger than their opponents. At half-time, Arsenal brought on the fit-again Martinelli for Trossard, while Guardiola chose to keep the risk-prone Kovacic on the field.

An energetic Martinelli needed only six minutes to test the City goalkeeper, Ederson, but his shot from a tight angle went straight into Ederson’s arms. Lewis found the back of the net for City in the 55th minute, but the referee had already blown the whistle for a foul.

The breakthrough finally came for Arsenal in the 87th minute, albeit in a highly fortunate manner. Takehiro Tomiyasu headed the ball down to Havertz, who set up Martinelli for a first-time strike into the center of the goal, with the ball taking a significant deflection off Ake’s head.

The four minutes of added time were insufficient for City to break down Arsenal’s resolute defence, and as a result, the Gunners climbed above the champions in the table.

Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher
Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events.

LATEST POSTS

Ramsdale delighted to have secured Southampton switch

Aaron Ramsdale could not hide his delight after securing a deadline-day move to Southampton. Goalkeeper Ramsdale has signed a four-year contract at St Mary’s after Saints...

Ancelotti hungry for UCL success with Real Madrid to go with LaLiga triumph

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is eyeing the Champions League trophy to go alongside the club's LaLiga success. Los Blancos confirmed their record-breaking 36th title at...

De Zerbi hails Aston Villa as ‘one of the best teams in the Premier League’

Roberto De Zerbi says his Brighton side beat "one of the best teams in the Premier League" on Sunday. The Seagulls took all three points thanks...

Madueke backing Chelsea for Europe after West Ham thumping

Noni Madueke is backing Chelsea to finish as high as possible after the Blues thrashed West Ham 5-0 in the Premier League. First-half goals from Cole...

Most Popular