LONDON – Arsenal have beaten Manchester City. I repeat, Arsenal have beaten Manchester City.
[ MORE: Gabriel Martinelli reaction - Belief is growing ]
This is the first time Arsenal have beaten Manchester City in the Premier League since December 2015 and it is the first time since December 2018 that Manchester City have lost back-to-back games in the Premier League.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
After 12-straight Premier League defeats against City, Mikel Arteta’s side won after a late Gabriel Martinelli shot deflected off Nathan Ake and sent the Emirates Stadium wild.
This was the statement win Arsenal needed to prove they are finally ready to push Man City all the way in the title race this season.
An expectant Emirates Stadium crowd barely had anything to cheer about for most of the game, as Mateo Kovacic was not sent off despite a lunging tackle on Martin Odegaard in the first half.
[ MORE: Mikel Arteta reaction — Praise for Martinelli, Raya ]
Manchester City had the better chances in the first half with Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake going close early, then Julian Alvarez blocking a David Raya clearance which almost rebounded into the Arsenal net.
This early-season battle between the two title favorites and the top two teams from last season was a chess match throughout as Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta know each other so well that they countered every move by the opponent made.
But Arsenal popped up with the game-winning moment in the 86th minute as Martinelli’s deflected effort flew in.
Arsenal remain unbeaten and have 20 points as they sit second and are only behind Tottenham on goals scored with the same goal difference. Manchester City have 18 points and sit in third.
Declan Rice proves why Arsenal paid the big bucks
In a game where there was so little between these title contenders, Arsenal beating Manchester City to the summer signing of Declan Rice looked even more pivotal. With Arsenal missing the brilliance of Bukayo Saka and Man City without the influential midfield duo of Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri, it was going to be defensive nous and brawn rather than creative genius which won this game. That’s where Declan Rice comes in. There’s a reason why people are talking about a poor display from Erling Haaland. Rice shielded balls into him all game long and with William Saliba man-marking Haaland and Rice shielding the Arsenal back four expertly, City could not penetrate Arsenal centrally like they did to great effect in their 4-1 win at the Etihad in April which effectively won them the 2022-23 Premier League title. Rice was wanted by Man City but he always preferred a move to Arsenal so he could be the main man in midfield and for days like this. He dominated central areas and in a game of very few chances he made sure Arsenal weren’t wide-open and were ready to land the killer blow when it arrived. City’s only shot on target was cleared off the line by, you guessed it, Declan Rice. Rice is ready to do battle with Rodri for the title of the best holding midfielder in the Premier League.
What’s next?
After the international break, Arsenal head to Chelsea on Saturday, Oct. 21 for a big London derby. Manchester City host Brighton on the same day
Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings
Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings (fotmob.com)
Arsenal vs Manchester City player ratings (fotmob.com)
FULL TIME - Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City
Just incredible noise here. What a moment for these Aesenal fans.
GOALLLL! Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City - Gabriel Martinelli, 86th minute
Surely that is the winner. Martinelli curls a shot towards goal and it takes a big deflection off Nathan Ake and goes in. The Emirates goes wild. Wow.
Not much to report in the second half
Just over 25 minutes to go and neither side have taken any risks yet in the second half. Stones. Doku and Nunes getting ready to come on for Man City. This could make things a little more interesting.
Gabriel Martinelli is on for Leandro Trossard at half time. Martinelli already cuts inside dangerously and creates a chance. Home fans are loving having Martinelli back.
🚨 Tight, tense clash so far here in north London.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) October 8, 2023
Live analysis, videos, stream link on Arsenal v Manchester City ➡️ https://t.co/pOqR4ightF
Gabriel Martinelli on at half time for Trossard. Arsenal fans here delighted about that.
My thoughts ⤵️ #AFC #MCFC #ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/sV8wz6S9xk
HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester City
This very much feels like a game both teams are playing to ‘not lose’ and aside from that David Raya mistake and early chances for Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol, it has yet to get going. Manchester City look comfortable enough. Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho are both on yellow cards and are walking a tightrope. Don’t be surprised if either of those players are taken off at half time.
VAR check for possible red card, but Mateo Kovacic stays on
My word, Mateo Kovacic is a lucky lad. He lunges in on Martin Odegaard and catches him with a studs up challenge high on his ankle. VAR has a look for a possible red card but the on-field decision of a yellow card stands. The face Kovacic was sliding in probably helped him out but if a red card was shown, Kovacic could have had no complaints. Minutes later, Kovacic then slides in on Declan Rice. The Arsenal fans are screaming for a second yellow. Referee Michael Oliver says no. Wow. Kovacic may have to come off at half time here.
First chance for Arsenal
With 26 minutes on the clock, that is the first chance for Arsenal. A ball down the left is misjudged by Ruben Dias and Eddie Nketiah has a sight of goal. He curls his effort wide of the far post.
Nearly a horrible error from David Raya
Oh my word. Arsenal play the ball back to David Raya and he is closed down by Julian Alvarez. His clearance hits Alvarez and goes into the side-netting. Arsenal’s fans react angrily but Mikel Arteta urges them to get behind Raya and the team. Minutes later he gives the ball away again but Bernardo Silva and City can’t carve out a chance from it. The home fans are getting very restless here.
Big chances early on for Manchester City!
A Phil Foden corner from the left is bundled towards goal by Gvardiol but Declan Rice clears off the line, then Haaland flicks on a ball back into the box but Nathan Ake shoots over when he should hit the target. Huge chance for Man City.
👋🔥Hello and welcome to the Emirates! Brilliant atmosphere here.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) October 8, 2023
Live analysis, videos + stream link for Arsenal v Manchester City here ➡️ https://t.co/pOqR4ightF
My thoughts on Arsenal v Manchester City ⤵️ #AFC #MCFC #ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/CRbyR5W0qk
Arsenal lineup
Bukayo Saka is not fit to be in the Arsenal squad, which is a huge blow. Jorginho comes in for Kai Havertz, while Leandro Trossard replaces Saka. Partey is only fit enough for the bench, while Gabriel Martinelli is back on the bench.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 8, 2023
⚖️ Jorginho in the middle
🪄 Trossard on the wing
📞 Nketiah leads the line
Let's do this - together ✊ pic.twitter.com/thTQLhyQVJ
Manchester City lineup
Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic get the nod in central midfield, while Julian Alvarez is starting just behind Erling Haaland. Foden and Bernardo Silva start in the wide areas.
Your City team! 🙌
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 8, 2023
XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Lewis, Bernardo, Foden, Alvarez, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Stones, Grealish, Doku, Gomez, Akanji, Nunes, Bobb#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/XRfzbmRUKd
How to watch Arsenal vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET (Sunday, Oct. 8)
TV: Peacock
Online: Watch via Peacock Premium
Arsenal vs Manchester City preview
The Gunners remain unbeaten in the Premier League but have yet to fire on all cylinders and their UEFA Champions League defeat at Lens in midweek proved they’re still struggling to get the balance right, especially in midfield. Declan Rice has been excellent since he arrived but Arteta seems to have gone for a more attacking approach in central areas and it just isn’t working. Still, they sit one point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City this weekend and these two teams have been very evenly matched over the last 12 months or so. The epic Manchester City wins home and away against Arsenal earlier this year swung the title in their favor but for so long it looked like Arsenal would win the title. There is a great rivalry building between these two sets of players, while of course the managers know each other extremely well and everything is set for an epic clash in north London on Sunday.
Manchester City bounced back from their shock defeat away at Wolves last weekend (they had won seven in a row to start the season before that) by comfortably winning away at RB Leipzig in the Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s side are missing the genius of Kevin de Bruyne due to injury and will miss the suspended Rodri badly this weekend. Still, they have a squad full of top internationals to step in and play the star role. Erling Haaland usually does that and he has scored eight goals in seven games to start the Premier League season. He will be relishing this opportunity to put down an early-season marker in the title race.
How many times have Arsenal beat Manchester City?
In short, not many in recent times. Arsenal have lost 12-straight Premier League games to Manchester City, being outscored 33-5 in that period. All-time, Arsenal lead the series 23-10-19 in terms of Premier League games. Manchester City won both games last season, which ultimately was the difference in them beating Arsenal to the Premier League title.
Bukayo Saka injury update
Saka came off in Arsenal’s defeat against Lens in the UEFA Champions League in midweek and has been nursing a knock for a while as he also hobbled off against Bournemouth last weekend.
However after being unclear initially about Saka, Mikel Arteta was a little more positive talking about this injury and here is the latest news on Saka’s availability for this huge game against Manchester City.
“He is in contention, we’ll see how he progresses from here to Sunday. Obviously he had to leave the pitch [against RC Lens], that’s never good news, but let’s see how he recovers,” Arteta said.
Arsenal vs Man City lineups
All eyes will be on whether or not Bukayo Saka can make it into the Arsenal starting lineup, or even on the bench. If he doesn’t, expect Leandro Trossard to start on the left and perhaps Gabriel Jesus will move to the right with Eddie Nketiah up top. Fabio Vieira is also another options.
Manchester City’s main lineup dilemma is in midfield with Rodri missing, so Pep Guardiola could put John Stones in there to give City more defensive balance. In attack, Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez both have to start with Jack Grealish and Phil Foden pushing hard to join them in the lineup.
Arsenal vs Man City last 10 match results (Premier League)
April 2023: Man City 4-1 Arsenal
January 2023: Arsenal 1-3 Man City
January 2022: Arsenal 1-2 Man City
August 2021: Man City 5-0 Arsenal
February 2021: Arsenal 0-1 Man City
October 2020: Man City 1-0 Arsenal
June 2020: Man City 3-0 Arsenal
December 2019: Arsenal 0-3 Man City
February 2019: Man City 3-1 Arsenal
August 2018: Arsenal 0-2 Man City
Focus on Arsenal
The Gunners are looking good but there’s a feeling that they’re slightly underperforming to start the season. The fact that notion is hanging in the air in north London and they’re just a point off the top of the table shows you how much progress they’ve made. With David Raya, Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber all arriving this summer, the squad is stronger but losing Timber to injury was a blow. Getting Thomas Partey back fit is a boost, while Arteta needs the duo of Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus to be more clinical when big chances arrive. Injury wise, Bukayo Saka is struggling with a muscle issue and came off early in their defeat at Lens. Gabriel Martinelli could come back from his thigh injury to play some part, while Timber remains out due to his long-term knee injury.
Focus on Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has been happy enough with how City have started the season as they’ve won both of their games in the Champions League and seven of eight in the Premier League. But recent defeats at Wolves in the league and Newcastle in the League Cup have thrown up a few doubts about this City squad. They usually bounce back with a big win, and performance, and they’ll have to do that without their most consistent duo over the last few seasons. Kevin de Bruyne remains out after injuring his hamstring, again, in the opening day win at Burnley, while Rodri’s silly red card led to a three-game suspension and he will serve the final game of that this weekend. That means Rico Lewis, Kalvin Phillips or Manuel Akanji could be tasked with replacing Rodri and if you have to make a selection now, it is probably going to be Akanji or Phillips. In attack, City have so many attacking weapons and both Haaland and Julian Alvarez have started the season in incredible goalscoring form with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish pushing to start.