David Raya and Gabriel run straight to Eberechi Eze after the goal.

Arsenal and Manchester City played out a dramatic 1–1 draw at the Emirates Stadium on 21 September 2025, with Gabriel Martinelli rescuing a late point for the Gunners. City struck first in the ninth minute, when Tijjani Reijnders set up Erling Haaland, who finished calmly past David Raya to give Pep Guardiola’s side an early advantage. Arsenal struggled to break down City’s compact shape in the first half, looking short of creativity and penetration.

The game shifted after the break as Mikel Arteta introduced Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, injecting pace and invention into Arsenal’s attack. Manchester City, unusually, were forced into a defensive shell, at one point sitting back with five defenders to protect their lead. Guardiola’s side recorded just 32.8% possession, their lowest in a Premier League match under his management, highlighting how much Arsenal pushed them onto the back foot.

The breakthrough finally came deep into stoppage time. Eze launched a long ball forward, which Martinelli controlled brilliantly before lobbing Gianluigi Donnarumma to spark wild celebrations at the Emirates. The equaliser capped off Arsenal’s second-half dominance and ensured they didn’t leave empty-handed.

The result leaves Arsenal on 10 points after five matches, keeping them within touching distance of the early leaders Liverpool. Manchester City, meanwhile, sit on 7 points, with the draw a setback in their push to climb back into the title race. While Guardiola will be frustrated at conceding so late, Arsenal’s resilience and Martinelli’s composure ensured a share of the spoils in a fiercely contested clash.