Martinelli’s Frustration Surfaces After Late Goal in Arsenal vs Manchester City match

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli showed his quality again with a late equaliser against Manchester City, but despite his dramatic strike deep into stoppage time, the Gunners had to settle for a single point. The Brazilian, introduced from the bench, struck in the 93rd minute to deny Pep Guardiola’s side a win, yet he spoke with frustration after the match.

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Martinelli admitted that while he was happy to score, he could not hide the team’s disappointment at failing to turn a spirited second-half performance into a win. His comments reflected not just the draw but his struggle with Mikel Arteta using him sparingly.

He said he did not enjoy being on the bench and preferred playing the full ninety minutes, though he stopped short of criticising his manager directly. He said he leaves selection to the “gaffer” while still emphasising his hunger to contribute more consistently. By giving credit to Eberechi Eze for the assist, Martinelli gave credit to the team, but his words still hinted at unease over his current role in the squad.

“Of course, we wanted to win the game. I think we created a lot of chances during the game and were just a bit unlucky in certain moments. Happy with the goal, but we didn’t want to draw the game; we wanted to win it, so let’s keep working to win those ones. I saw Ebs [Eberechi Eze] getting the ball, and I tried to make eye contact with him. Once the ball was open, I moved, and it was a great ball from him. 

“I just tried to put it in the back of the net. I work for those moments. I leave [selection] for the gaffer; he knows what he does. I just do my best to help this football club. Of course, I don’t want to be on the bench. I want to play 90 minutes every single game, but Arteta knows what he does; he’s the gaffer and everyone trusts him. We’re really happy with him.”

Arsenal’s Mixed Display Against Manchester City

The 1-1 draw with Manchester City on 21 September reflected two completely different performances from Arsenal, leaving supporters both encouraged and frustrated. In the first half, the side struggled to keep the ball, looked hesitant in possession, and barely fashioned any clear chances. City exposed that lack of sharpness with Erling Haaland scoring early after a swift counter, underlining Arsenal’s weakness in transition.

The second half looked completely different as changes from the bench, particularly the introductions of Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka, injected pace and creativity. Arsenal pressed higher, unsettled City’s rhythm, and began testing Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was forced into action more than once.

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Martinelli’s clever lob in the dying moments showed his instinct, but it disguised how Arsenal wasted chances earlier and ended up chasing the game. Supporters will take pride in their dominance after the break, with 67 per cent possession and a tally of 12 shots compared to City’s 5, but they still worry about Arsenal breaking down defensive teams in key fixtures. Still, Arteta’s record of five unbeaten league games against Guardiola signals progress, and even with frustrations like Martinelli’s role, the overall competitiveness of this Arsenal side continues to grow.