Arsenal secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday, marking their first league win against the Citizens since 2015.
Gatekeepers News reports that this victory ended a frustrating run of 12 successive league defeats to Manchester City for Arsenal and was seen as a moment of redemption for the North London club.
While Arsenal had previously beaten City on penalties in the Community Shield in August, this Premier League win carries added significance.
Gabriel Martinelli’s late goal, which took a deflection off City defender Nathan Ake, sealed the triumph for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.
The win propelled Arsenal to second place in the league, two points ahead of third-placed Manchester City and just behind leaders Tottenham, based on goal difference.
This loss marked a rare sign of vulnerability for Manchester City, who had won their first six league games of the season before losing two consecutive matches, including this defeat to Arsenal and three back to back defeats across all competitions.
While City is not expected to give up their title defense easily, manager Pep Guardiola faces challenges in rejuvenating his squad, which may have lost some of its hunger after achieving a treble-winning season.
On the other hand, Arsenal, under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta, is showing determination to compete for the title this season after narrowly missing out on the Premier League championship in the previous campaign.
Arteta’s tactical acumen, particularly his substitutions in this match, played a key role in Arsenal’s victory, adding an early twist to the Premier League title race.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Mateo Kovacic’s clashes with City players added to the intensity of the match, with Arsenal’s fans providing passionate support.
Ultimately, it was a masterstroke from Arteta, who introduced Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz, that led to Martinelli’s match-winning goal in the 86th minute.
City appeared content with a draw, but Arsenal’s persistence paid off as they secured a memorable victory, ending their long wait for a league win over Manchester City.
