Arsenal’s best and worst players in crucial victory over Man City
At long last, Arsenal has secured a Premier League victory over Manchester City after eight years and 12 consecutive defeats against them.
Both teams managed only a single shot on target each for the majority of the 85-minute match, making it seem like the game was heading towards a tedious 0-0 draw.
However, everything changed when Gabriel Martinelli received a pass from Kai Havertz and unleashed a shot towards the goal. The ball deflected off the unfortunate Nathan Ake and found its way into the back of the net.
Here are the standout and underperforming players for Arsenal in their triumph against Manchester City, as indicated by ArsenalBrief player ratings.
Arsenal’s best player vs Man City
Gabriel Martinelli – 8/10
Following a five-game absence, Gabriel Martinelli made a significant impact when he entered the field during the second half of Sunday’s match at the Emirates Stadium, ultimately becoming the decisive factor in the contest between the two teams.
The Brazilian injected an instant burst of energy into Arsenal’s offensive play upon his introduction by Mikel Arteta. He created chaos on the left side with his direct dribbling and his daring approach to trying new things with the ball.
Martinelli was responsible for generating both of Arsenal’s shots on target in the game, and it was his second shot that ultimately secured the victory for his team.
Honourable mention
Declan Rice – 8/10
The match at the Emirates was precisely the type of game that justified Declan Rice’s signing, and he certainly lived up to expectations.
Throughout the game, the midfielder seemed to be everywhere on the television screen, showcasing his skills. He successfully completed 90% of his passes, made three crucial interceptions, won four duels, and overall, asserted his dominance in the midfield.
Rice’s most significant impact in the game occurred in the fourth minute when he sprinted back to the goal line to prevent a Josko Gvardiol volley from finding the back of the net.
Arsenal’s worst player vs Man City
David Raya – 4/10
David Raya, who was brought in during the summer for his ball-playing abilities, appeared noticeably uneasy whenever he had the ball at his feet on Sunday.
Especially in the first half, the Spanish goalkeeper struggled to deal with the intense offensive pressing from Manchester City. He found himself in a precarious situation early in the game when Julian Alvarez blocked his attempted clearance from just inside the six-yard box. Fortunately for Raya, the ball spun wide of the post, preventing an embarrassing mishap.
Dishonourable mention
Leandro Trossard – 4/10
Trossard’s performance in both games this week was far from impressive.
In the match in Lens, he didn’t have a significant impact on the proceedings, and his performance in the first half in north London over the weekend was no different.
With Martinelli’s return from injury, it’s expected that Trossard will see a significant decrease in his playing time in the upcoming weeks.
Arsenal’s best and worst players in crucial victory over Man City