Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic late winner as Arsenal earned a statement victory over defending Premier League champions Manchester City at Emirates Stadium.
A largely disappointing game was given a stunning finale four minutes from time just as both sides looked certain to have to settle for a point.
Making his return from a hamstring injury as a substitute, Martinelli’s strike deflected in off Nathan Ake to earn Arsenal a first league win over City since December 2015.
It was a moment that sparked wild celebrations and put the Gunners level on points with north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table.
The biggest talking point until the goal was how Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic somehow stayed on the pitch after successive late tackles on Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.
City had the better early opportunities when Rice cleared off the line from Josko Gvardiol before Ake scooped a shot over the bar from close range.
Arsenal keeper David Raya, who had an uncertain time, was twice almost caught in possession on his line by Julian Alvarez.
But it was the home side who were elated as Martinelli, introduced off the bench for the second half, made that vital contribution.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given an update on Bukayo Saka’s injury and availability ahead of his side’s Premier League meeting with Manchester City on Sunday.
Manchester City will visit the Emirate ahead of Sunday’s much anticipated premier League clash.
Recall that Saka was substituted due to injury after just 34 minutes in Arsenal’s defeat to Lens on Tuesday night. The forward has suffered a couple of knocks already this season, with manager Mikel Arteta previously confirming that discomfort after performing a backheel had led to him coming off after 76 minutes in the Gunners’ most recent league game with Bournemeouth.
Despite concerns over his current injury, the 22-year-old was named in England’s squad for the country’s upcoming friendly with Australia and important Euro 2024 qualifier with Italy. When quizzed about Saka’s inclusion, England boss Gareth Southgate stated that he expected the winger to be ‘in contention’ to face City on Sunday.
Saka has played pivotal role in Arsenal’s beautiful run so far this season.
Manchester City overcame Arsenal in the title race last season and the teams are separated by a single point ahead of the game at the Emirates Stadium, with Saka pivotal to the Gunners’ chances of recording a statement win.
However, Arteta has not ruled out Saka’s availability in Sunday’s game against City but wasn’t categorical about the forward’s inclusion.
In the last meeting between both sides, Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties to win the community shield.
Veteran Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, has dropped his predictions on the much anticipated clash between Premier League champions, Manchester City and last season’s runners up Arsenal this Sunday at the Emirate.
The game at the Emirates will be a top-of-the-table clash.
City have dropped to second position for the first time this season after Tottenham defeated Luton Town 1-0 to overtake the Citizens.
Recall that City’s first loss of the season was recorded after they were shocked 201 by Wolves at the Molineux.
Pep Guardiola’s men have one more point than Arsenal, who are yet to lose this campaign.
Carragher is backing the Gunners to continue their run with a win against the champions.
“I think Arsenal just might do it with home advantage and with Rodri not playing, who is a huge player for Manchester City. So I’m going to go with Arsenal.
“That’ll hopefully give us a title race between now and the end of the season because we can’t afford, as neutrals, I think we want this title race to go as long as it can possibly go,” Carragher said.
Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has listed two rival club sides that will challenge the champions for the title this season.
Manchester City will slug it out against Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday for what football experts already dubbed clash of the titans.
Although he insisted the game will not define the title race for City, the former Barcelona manager believed Arsenal will be contenders for the Premier League title, alongside Liverpool.
“Arsenal will be title rivals, along with Liverpool. To analyse the contenders, the idea is the first 10 games; we haven’t played 10, we have to wait, but the big clubs are always contenders,” Guardiola told a press conference on Friday.
Manchester United have been rooted to the bottom of the Group A after a shock defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League group stage on Tuesday night.
Erik ten Hag’s men were looking to bounce back from their fourth Premier League defeat against Crystal Palace last weekend.
In the 17th minute, Rasmus Hojlund gave the hosts the lead heading home powerfully from Marcus Rashford’s cross. but Wilfried Zaha equalized against his former club six minutes later
Hojlund restored United’s lead with a powerful run and finish in the 67th minute, only for Kerem Akturkoglu to make it 2-2 four minutes later.
Mauro Icardi missed from the penalty spot after Casemiro conceded a penalty, before slotting home the winner late in the game.
The result sends Galatasaray up to second in the group on four points and leave United pointless.
Bayern Munich are top on six points from two games after a 2-1 win at FC Copenhagen, who are third with one point.
Elsewhere another Premiership side, Arsenal kissed the canvass in faraway France as Lens football club came from behind to shock the Gunners in the Champions League.
Elye Wahi’s goal for the French side served as a turning point in the encounter.
Wahi’s first-time finish into the bottom left corner after a cross from Przemyslaw Frankowski saw the home side take the lead in the 69th minute.
Wahi’s goal eventually turned out to be the winning goal for Lens.
The Gunners rode some early pressure from Lens before Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring after a 14th-minute through-ball from Bukayo Saka, who then went off injured.
Lens levelled with a superb finish from Adrien Thomasson, who curled into the far corner.
Saka went off after 33 minutes in another blow for Mikel Arteta’s side on a difficult night in Europe’s top-tier competition.
In another UCL encounter, Own goal by goalkeeper Alex Meret in 2nd half hands Real Madrid narrow against Napoli in Italy.
Real Madrid beat Napoli 3-2 in a UEFA Champions League group match Tuesday in Italy thanks to an unfortunate own goal by the Naples club’s goalkeeper Alex Meret.
Leo Ostigard scored the opening goal for Napoli in the 19th minute at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Brazilian star Vinicius Junior leveled in the 27th minute for Real Madrid.
Newly acquired Jude Belligham put the visitors in the lead in the 34 m inutes of the encounter but Napoli’s Polish midfielder Piotr Zielinski scored from the penalty spot to level the match in the 54th minute.
However, the White’s midfielder Federico Valverde sent a long-range missile which was deflected by Meret into his own net.
Real Marid have two wins in two to sit comfortably at the top of Group C
Arsenal football club today cruised into a 4-0 win against Bournemouth at the Vitality stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Bournemouth tried to play their heavy pressing style against Arsenal, which the Gunners passed through and around with ease.
Bukayo Saka headed home a rebound from Gabriel Jesus to put the gunners 1-0 ahead before Gunners Captain converted the second goal of the encounter from the penalty spot.
Upon resumption of the second half, Arsenal profited from another naughty Bournemouth challenge in the box, when Ryan Christie slid in from behind to foul Martin Ødegaard in the 18 yard box. Kai Havertz was handed the ball and he converted from the spot to put Arsenal 3-0 up.
Ben White added a fourth in added time, heading home an Ødegaard free kick.
Elsewhere, Luton Town claimed a historic first Premier League victory by shocking forlorn Everton at Goodison Park.
Luton were promoted via the Championship play-offs last season and had collected a single point from their opening five top-flight games but resisted an Everton fightback to take home all three points.
Luton took the lead when Carlton Morris’ header rattled the crossbar and, as Ashley Young looked to clear, the ball cannoned off captain Tom Lockyer and into the net.
Morris kept his composure to side-foot in a volley from Alfie Doughty’s free-kick having been left unmarked at the back post.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave the Toffees a lifeline by scoring his side’s consolation.
The result meant the Hatters have secured their first win of the season away at Goodison park.
Kai Havertz scored his first goal for Arsenal with a penalty as they comfortably beat winless Bournemouth in the Premier League at Vitality Stadium.
Havertz, who has struggled since arriving from Chelsea in the summer, converted the second of two Gunners penalties to ensure their third consecutive away victory.
Bukayo Saka opened the scoring, heading in the rebound from Gabriel Jesus’ effort and Martin Odegaard scored a penalty to give Mikel Arteta’s side a comfortable lead at the break.
The Gunners’ dominance continued into the second half, and after Havertz scored, Ben White headed home from Odegaard’s free-kick in added time to add gloss to a comprehensive victory.
Bournemouth drop into the bottom three, with no wins from their first seven league matches under new manager Andoni Iraola.
English Premier League champions, Manchester City have kissed the Carabao cup goodbye after losing to Newcastle United on Wednesaday night courtesy of Alexander Ishak’s solitary goal in the second half of the encounter.
The result meant City will not win a domestic quadruple this season.
Elsewhere Chelsea secured passage to the next round of the competition after seeing off Brighton & Hove Albion by 1-0 thanks to a lone goal from Senegal striker Nicholas Jackson.
Brigthon have also exited the competiton and will henceforth concentrate on other business.
At Anfield, Liverpool came back from a goal down to defeat visiting Championship side, Leceister City by 3-1.
The Reds trailed by 1-0 in the first half but rallied back to score three in the second half to ensure their progress into the fourth round.
Another Premier League side, Arsenal defeated Brentford 1-0 to progress to the round of 16 of the competition.
Here are the results from tonight’s games.
Aston Villa 1-2 Everton
Blackburn 5-2 Cardiff
Bournemouth 2-0 Stoke
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
Fulham 2-1 Norwich
Lincoln 0-1 West Ham
Liverpool 3-1 Leicester
Newcastle 1-0 Manchester City
The draws for the round of 16 were made immediately after Wednesday’s games.
Full last-16 draw
Mansfield Town v Port Vale
Ipswich Town v Fulham
Manchester United v Newcastle United
Bournemouth v Liverpool
Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers
West Ham United v Arsenal
Everton v Burnley
Exeter City v Middlesbrough
The ties will take place in the week commencing 30 October.
