Manchester City lost to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, and manager Pep Guardiola has suggested that Gabriel Martinelli was the key player in the win for the Gunners.
Arsenal beat Manchester City 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday.
Gabriel Martinelli scored the only goal of the match in the 86th minute.
Kai Havertz, who joined Arsenal from London and Premier League rivals Chelsea in the summer transfer window, provided the assist.
Martinelli’s strike deflected in off Nathan Ake.
The £180,000-a-week (Spotrac) winger did not start the match.
The 22-year-old Brazil international winger has had injury problems, and manager Mikel Arteta did not include him in the starting lineup.
Martinelli came on as a substitute in the 75th minute.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli
And, according to City manager Pep Guardiola, he changed the rhythm.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager, though, has noted that there was nothing much between Arsenal and City.
Guardiola told City’s official website: “It was a tight game. Congratulations to Arsenal for the victory.
“We started really well in the first minutes, they started really well in the second half.
“With Martinelli they increased the rhythm.
“We didn’t create much, they didn’t create much.
“We defended really well, both teams.
“At the end one deflection was the difference.”
My View: Gabriel Martinelli a big player for Arsenal
In my opinion, Gabriel Martinelli is one of the best and most important players for Arsenal.
Martinelli may be only 22 now, but the Brazil international is one of the first names on the Arsenal teamsheet when he is fit and available.
The winger can run with the ball, has pace, can get past opposition players, can cross, and can cut inside.
I believe that Martinelli will play a big role for Arsenal in their quest to win the Premier League title this season.
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