Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score a late winner as Arsenal continued their hoodoo over Manchester City with a second win in three months.
Sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring injury, the Brazil international made an instant impact on his return, firing home with the aid of a deflection off Nathan Ake’s face on an afternoon when the Gunners produced a mature performance to grind down the reigning champions.
Here’s what the players, managers and pundits had to say about the heavyweight clash…
Mikel Arteta on the win…
It feels like a big one, because it’s been a while. It’s been so many years without beating them. We have beaten the best team in the world today, by far in my opinion, and we have done it with a huge performance, going through some difficult moments in the game, but at the end, living an incredible experience with our people here.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Arteta on the fans getting tetchy when Raya was on the ball…
It’s my fault, all my fault. They can boo me because I ask him to do that and especially against this team you start to do other things and you get in big, big, big trouble. I think he was excellent. I think the way he dominated his box, the way he came up for crosses and set-pieces, the height that he played, he’s got big ones [balls].
Source: Post-game press conference | Hayters
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Pep Guardiola on the difference between the two sides…
One deflection. We started with 10-15 [minutes of] really good moments in the first half, they started really well in the second half, they increased intensity. It was a tight game and we didn’t have many chances, they didn’t have either. At the end, it was one deflection, we conceded a goal.
Source: BBC Match of the Day
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#Arsenal's record when Martinelli scores:
W W W D W D D W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W D D W
— Harvey Downes (@HarveyDownes92) October 8, 2023
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Arteta on Martinelli’s return to action…
He’s been saying for a few weeks, I’m going to be there against City and obviously everybody was saying, “Gabi it will be too early for you”. Yesterday he said, “Boss, I told you I’m going to be ready for this.” And it happened that Leo [Trossard] after 30 minutes felt something in his hamstring. So when I turned around he was already ready to go. You know, “Boss I’m ready to go.” So it’s just the joy of a kid. His mentality is incredible at his age and it’s just a joy to have him because today he could change the game and he was really helpful for us to win the game.
Source: Post-game press conference | Hayters
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David Raya on how Arsenal grew into the game…
I think the first half was a little bit more edgy, they pressed very well. It was tough for us to play out from the back, so that’s why we tried a few more long balls, because when we were playing short, they were coming on top. We were giving them transitions, and we know they’re one of the best teams in transitions, so I think it was a good first half, but we could have done better. And that’s what we did in the second half, we came out knowing what we had to do, and we hurt them a lot with our threats especially in behind, and that’s why we won the game.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Arteta on Bukayo Saka’s injury and whether he’ll play for England…
No, he could not make it, he hasn’t had a single training session so he will be out. He’s not available to play football at the moment.
Source: Post-game press conference | Hayters
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Gary Neville on the importance of Gabriel, Saliba & Rice…
More important than that [keeping Saka fit] are the two centre-backs and Rice. They will not win the league if they don’t have the two centre-backs and Rice. I was worried about the goalkeeper in the first half today, that was close, he’s averted a bit of a crisis. If he concedes in one of those moments of anxiety, honestly, you’ve seen it go like that [waves hand downwards]. He came out a lot better in the second half. I don’t know what Mikel Arteta said at half time but they all came out better but he [Raya] had to get through that game.
Source: Sky Sports
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⚡️ E N E R G Y ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/c4G7TLMPbd
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 8, 2023
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Pep Guardiola on the scuffle at full time between Nicolas Jover and Kyle Walker…
I know what happened, but I won’t say anything.
Source: Post-game press conference | Hayters
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Arteta on four subs – Partey, Tomiyasu, Havertz and Martinelli – being involved in the goal…
This is what we need, the subs to make an impact. We had a lot of discussions about it because you cannot maintain the level of energy that we produced in the first 60 minutes. They were so important, they were involved, they lifted the team and it was great to have that contribution.
Source: Viaplay Fotball
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Gabriel Jesus on a busy week…
It’s not easy playing three games in one week, each 90 minutes but I did it, I think I’m back with my fitness like I’ve always been, fighting, running everywhere, helping the team without the ball. Today I could run and help them but the whole team played amazing and we won the game that way.
Source: Sky Sports (read more here)
What a win!! So, so deserved over those mugs 💛
All four subs involved in goal (not 3) Partey sweet ball to Tomi starts the move.
Can anyone confirm that Ben White is actually a robot?
Let me put it this way, Mr. Amor, the BEN 9000 is the most reliable computer ever made. No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information.
We beat City the last time we played them and won a trophy.
Rice is 2 from 2 in games against City since he joined us
We’re obviously City’s hoodoo team.
Yeah, their Bolton Wanderers😀
G Jesus is a wizard. I don’t think I’ve seen someone since Alexis regularly pluck the ball out of mid-air while feinting to wrongfoot the defender like he does.
Is it only me, but could he try to volley the ball to the roof of the net, albeit from a tight angle, rather than try to square it across a crowded box?
So what happened with Jover and Walker? (besides Walker being a sore loser and former Sp*rs player)
Only Pep knows
…and he won’t tell.
Big up Arsenal!!
That was a very important win.
Why bother to go through all the defenders to score when you can simply hit some part of Akanji with the ball and it’s in?
Happened at Wembley in the Community Shield too🤣