Arsenal will go into the international break unbeaten and level on points with North London rivals Tottenham, who are also unbeaten and top of the Premier League with 20 points. The Gunners face Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, having not won in their last twelve clashes with the Premier League champions in the league.
However, there was a chance for Arsenal to do damage after Pep Guardiola’s men lost their last Premier League fixture 2-1 away at Wolves the last time out, although they bounced back with a victory midweek in the Champions League with a 3-1 in Germany against RB Leipzig.
The visitors were lucky not to have been reduced to ten men after Kovacic and Bernardo Silva were yellow-carded in the first half. The hosts were without Bukayo Saka, who was ruled out due to injury; the forward had helped out with six-goal contributions in seven Premier League games this season with four goals and two assists.
However, all the huff didn’t produce a goal until the 86th minute when substitute Gabriel Martinelli’s shot was deflected into the net off Nathan Ake.
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, was recording his first league win over Pep Guardiola for the first time, and he described the result as a special one.
“It is a special one. It has been a long time since the club beat Manchester City. We felt today could be the day, but we needed a big performance from everyone, and we had that. The players had incredible discipline; they won so many balls. We lacked a bit of threat, but overall, the atmosphere was just incredible. We started the second half really, really well. The subs made a huge difference.” Arteta said.
It’s a return to winning ways for a team that lost to French side RC Lens in the UCL during the week. Arsenal and Manchester City will return to action in the league against Chelsea and Brighton respectively after the international break.
Sunday’s Premier League Results.
Brighton 2-2 Liverpool
West Ham 2-2 Newcastle
Wolves 1-1 Aston Villa
Arsenal 1-0 Man City.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
