Arsenal vs. Man City final score: Premier League result, updates, stats as Martinelli late show salvages draw

Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to snatch a 1-1 draw for Arsenal against a dogged Manchester City in the Premier League.

Erling Haaland's seventh goal of the season gave City a ninth-minute lead but, as the contest wore on, Pep Guardiola's men were forced into an uncharacteristic display of sweat and toil without the ball. Phil Foden made way for Nathan Ake, an exhausted Haaland was replaced by defensive midfielder Nico Gonzalez

And it was a lapse from Ake that allowed Martinelli to stay onside and aim a delicious first-time finish over the excellent Gianluigi Donnarumma in the City goal.

It meant the real winners on Sunday were Liverpool, the reigning champions who have won five out of five this season. That leaves them five points ahead of Arsenal and eight better off than City — a handy position, even at this early stage.

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Arsenal vs. Man City score

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
Referee: Stuart Atwell

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Starting lineups:

Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left): 1. David Raya (GK) — 12. Jurrien Timber (11. Gabriel Martinelli), 6. Gabriel, 2. William Saliba, 33. Riccardo Calafiori — 23. Mikel Merino (7. Bukayo Saka), 36. Martin Zubimendi, 41. Declan Rice — 20. Noni Madueke (10. Eberechi Eze), 14. Viktor Gyokeres, 19. Leandro Trossard (22. Ethan Nwaneri)

Man City (4-1-4-1, right to left): 25. Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK) — 45. Abdukodir Khusanov (27. Matheus Nunes), 3. Ruben Dias, 24. Josko Gvardiol, 33. Nico O'Reilly (5. John Stones) — 16. Rodri — 20. Bernardo Silva, 47. Phil Foden (6. Nathan Ake), 4. Tijjani Reijnders, 11. Jeremy Doku (26. Savinho) — 9. Erling Haaland (14. Nico Gonzalez)

MORE: Phil Foden pays perfect tribute to Ricky Hatton's memory in emotionally weighted Manchester derby

Despite the games being torrid affairs for City overall last season, Haaland scored in both matches against Arsenal and he netted a fifth career goal at the Gunners' expense to give the visitors an ideal start.

The striker dropped back to break up a scrappy passage of play in the City half to set Tijjani Reijnders streaming into Arsenal territory. The Netherlands midfielder had Jeremy Doku tearing away to his left but waited for Haaland and slipped him a pass for a cool finish.

Arsenal proceeded to dominate territory but lacked craft with Martin Odegaard injured and the fit-again Bukayo Saka on the bench alongside Eberechi Eze. Aside from Noni Madueke's industrious wing play, their main threat came from corners and long throws, where Donnarumma asserted himself well.

Arteta went to his bench at halftime, sending on Saka and Eze for the ineffective Mikel Merino and — somewhat harshly — Madueke. Saka was straight into the action, hanging up a cross that City half-cleared and Martin Zubimendi clattered over. Eze then went closer, stinging Donnarumma's palms.

This new-look City are not the fluid footballing dream machine of Guardiola's peak years in Manchester. The aim will be for that to come in due course and they can be encouraged along that path by their titanic any-means-necessary efforts in north London.

Martinelli's deft dagger will take some of the wind out of those sails. It clawed back a deserved point that was celebrated in full-throated fashion by a home faithful that had worn their anxiety on their collective sleeves.

Arsenal vs Man City stats

Arsenal vs. Man City live updates, highlights, and commentary

Fulltime

It ends honours even after a heavyweight tussle that wasn't the easiest watch at times. Both teams have shown immense character and both have fallen further behind Liverpool. Maybe those on the red side of Merseyside enjoyed this more than anyone. Thanks for joining us.

90+5 mins: City have played well since conceding and even test Arsenal from a set-piece. The roof could very easily have fallen in on them in these circumstances.

90+2 mins: GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!! Gabriel Martinelli!!!!!!!

Arsenal are level and it's brilliant from Martinelli. It's no more than a speculative ball over a tired City line. Ake plays him onside and the Brazil winger produces a magnificent lobbed finish over Donnarumma.

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Martinelli's BRILLIANT finish in stoppage time sees Arsenal draw vs Manchester City! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3CgC36tDvP

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 21, 2025

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"What a MAGICAL finish!" ✨

Gabriel Martinelli equalises for Arsenal in injury-time! pic.twitter.com/dFllxh3eFP

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 21, 2025

90 mins: Seven minutes of stoppage time. If memory serves, Stones scored a 97th-minute equaliser for City against Arsenal last season.

87 mins: O'Reilly coming off for Stones, just in case City didn't have quite enough centre-backs on the field. Doku makes way for Savinho.

86 mins: Gvardiol clears his lines and Doku is able to buy a free-kick in Arsenal territory. Playing an unfamiliar game, the Belgium winger has been absolutely superb here.

84 mins: O'Reilly is still receiving treatment, Nwaneri comes on for Trossard. Savinho and Stones are getting ready on the City bench,

82 mins: Doku scampers into the Arsenal box and shoots just across the face of goal. My word, that looked like the smash and grab might be in the bag. Then Dias and Donnarumma miscommunicate, leaving the goalkeeper to clatter into a 50/50 with Gyokeres. Talking of clattering, Nico throws himself into challenge on Saka and boots his team-mate O'Reilly for good measure.

81 mins: Rice's corner is right into Donnarumma's goalmouth but he bats it away. Then Calafiori hits a speculative shot way over.

80 mins: Nunes heads behind to take the ball away from an offside Trossard and it's an Arsenal corner. One of the flaws in that directive. Martinelli on for Timber for the hosts.

77 mins: Donnarumma is booked for time-wasting. Much mirth from the locals.

76 mins: Haaland, who does look absolutely exhausted, comes off and Nico is on. 

75 mins: Cross floated to the far post and Calafiori heads over.

74 mins: City have taken the sting out of this well in the past few minutes. Ake has to marshall Gyokeres and give away a corner, though.

67 mins: Second City change, Ake on for Foden. Which could mean O'Reilly gets a chance to stretch his legs in midfield, but for now it looks like a back five. Peppenacio.

64 mins: Fouls by Reijnders and O'Reilly in quick succession mean Rice can aim a free-kick into the box. Gyokeres gets the ball trapped under his feet and the chance is gone.

61 mins: Timber floats one to the back post. Nunes heads behind. Rinse and repeat.

60 mins: The corner zips over the six-yard box, Trossard's shot is blocked and Haaland mops up.

59 mins: Gvardiol with a find challenge on Saka and it's another Arsenal corner.

58 mins: Arsenal don't effectively clear the corner, Silva finds Doku but he's strayed needlessly offside.

57 mins: Doku tears forward from the corner and releases Haaland. His shot is too close to Raya when he should have really squared to Foden. In a panic, Eze blasts the clearance against a team-mate and it spins over for a City corner.

56 mins; Nunes stucks to his task against Trossard but has to concede the corner.

50 mins: Arsenal, suddenly with attacking threat. City can't clear Trossard's ball into the box effectively and Eze spanks a stinging shot that Donnarumma gets behind.

48 mins: Saka straight into the game, around Doku. Dias gets to his cross but the clearance only goes as far as Zubimendi, who blasts over from 18 yards.

46 mins: Doku straight back into his work, Timber brings him down cynically and is booked.

Kickoff: 2nd Half

We're back and Arteta has decided to twist. Saka and Eze are both on, with Merino and Madueke the men to make way. City the second to emerge from the tunnel and they a different-looking Arsenal team awaiting them. There's also a change for the visitors. Khusanov, presumably due to injury, makes way for Nunes.

Halftime

Well, it's been a fairly spikey, fractious affair, as is the case with this fixture nowadays. City lead through the standout moment of quality featuring Reijnders and Haaland. Gabriel is still talking to the referee. Maybe about Donnarumma taking his time over restarts. A fair point, but also some stones being hurled from the Arsenal glasshouse if we consider their development over the past couple of seasons.

45+3 mins: Some caper here. Silva kicks the ball into Trossard at close quarters. The Belgium forward then gets up and... well. The City captain kicked the ball into quite a painful area and so Trossard returned the favour in kind. Can we all grow up?

😅 pic.twitter.com/uSxsGfTdGs

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 21, 2025

45+1 mins: Into four added minutes. Madueke clatters goalwards, Donnarumma saves and City clear behind. There's a sense they're hanging on a little.

44 mins: O'Reilly makes a good block on Madueke but the Arsenal winger, as he does, comes again. He lifts it into the box, Donnarumma gets to the punch and Calafiori blooters a volley over.

41 mins: Rice drives Arsenal forward. Trossard dinks into the City goalmouth. Gvardiol gets in a good defensive header and Doku clears over his own bar. Donnarumma gets a punch on it, not convincingly but Saliba's finish is similarly not the best.

38 mins: Khusanov almost plays Donnarumma into trouble but City eventually get out quite well through the Uzbek defender. Now Haaland holds it up and Doku goes on a mazy run. He overplays a touch before Rodri lifts a shot way over.

36 mins: Silva throws in an agricultural challenge on Gabriel. An obvious yellow card. I guess if you're going to get booked, you might as well do it properly.

35 mins: Long, methodical period of Arsenal possession. They'll hope this stings City legs later on. As of now, it's not coming to much at all.

32 mins: We've had a look at a few Arsenal corners. Now for the Calafiori long throw. Gabriel goes down in a heap, Rice chips back into the box and Donnarumma mops up.

28 mins: Madueke with a brilliant, bundling run gets to the City byline. No one's there for his cutback and Silva can boot clear. The hosts grinding their way into the game.

27 mins: Donnarumma reads it well and punches clear. But there's another corner from the right.

26 mins: Gyokores, Trossard and Calafiori combine to win a corner. We'll get a look at our first Declan Rice in-swinger of the afternoon.

22 mins: Arsenal look to go through City's recently soft centre but Khusanov shows good recovery pace to shut the door on Gyokeres.

20 mins: City win the ball high up after Doku harried Timber. Haaland and Silva combine to give Reijnders a shooting opportunity. That's too close to Raya, he should have done better.

18 mins: Timber joins the Arsenal attack to win the corner off O'Reilly. Reijnders half-clears Madueke's delivery at the near post. Foden steals in and clears.

15 mins: There's a break in play as Khusanov received some treatment. Gabriel trod on his foot. Magic spray time.

9 mins: GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!! Erling Haaland!!!!!

First blood to City. Haaland finds himself back in his own half in a scrambled passage of play. Reijnders emerges and strides forward. He delays the pass for Haaland and the striker slots home.

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Man City runs the counter attack to PERFECTION as Haaland strikes first.👌 pic.twitter.com/LzvZdITz6c

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 21, 2025

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Erling Haaland strikes at the Emirates! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/lNK5BBWo0O

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 21, 2025

4 mins: Trossard shoulder to shoulder against Khusanov and down. No foul, but City aren't too sharp bringing the ball out.

2 mins: O'Reilly can't pounce on a poor Raya's poor clearance and Arsenal come away on the break. Gyokeres feeds Calafiori, who is welcomed to the game by one of Khusanov's lusty slide tackles.

Kickoff: 1st Half

Reijnders gets us underway. I looks like Foden starting on the right for the visitors, with Silva shuttling around in the middle.

5 mins before kickoff: The teams are in the tunnel, including City goalkeeper Donnarumma, a man very familiar with the big stage who gets his first taste of this fixture. He'll be bombarded with Arsenal set-pieces at some stage. Here they come.

30 mins before kickoff: The game could come down to the contributions of two Belgian wingers. Jeremy Doku has frustrated at times with his inconsistency at City, but backed up a pair of assists in the Manchester derby with a fabulous solo goal to sink 10-man Napoli. Leandro Trossard looked like being way down the pecking order at Arsenal this season after the arrival of Eberechi Eze, but his goal in Bilbao has persuaded Mikel Arteta to go with one of his tried and trusted options. Trossard scored a late, late equaliser against City in the 2023 Community Shield to set up a penalty shootout triumph, but he is goalless in six Premier League games for the Gunners against this opponent and was sent off at the Etihad Stadium last term.

50 mins before kickoff: Erling Haaland put in one of his finest all-round performances for City in last weekend's 3-0 win over Manchester United. He was also on target in the Champions League in midweek thanks to a delicious Phil Foden assist. It's an absurd statistic that Haaland's five goals in the opening four matches represents his worst start to a Premier League season. He scored in both games against Arsenal last season and his box-office tussle with Gabriel is sure to grab plenty of attention once again.

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1 hr 10 mins before kickoff: Here's the Arsenal side. William Saliba returns to the starting XI as expected. Leandro Trossard being rewarded with a start following his midweek goal against Athletic Club is more of a surprise. Bukayo Saka and Ben White are back and among the substitutes.

🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️

🔙 Saliba returns
©️ Gabriel skippers the side
🪄 Trossard on the wing

Let's bring the fight, Gunners 👊

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 21, 2025

1 hr 15 mins before kickoff: The teams are in. Pep Guardiola names an unchanged starting line-up for the third time in eight days, which means Rodri has been passed fit to start. You wonder if fatigue will be a factor later on, although a routine win over 10-man Napoli on Thursday did give Guardiola chance to use his bench and keep key men a little fresher.

Today’s line-up! 💪🩵

XI | Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Haaland

SUBS | Trafford, Stones, Ake, Nico, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis

🤝 @etihad pic.twitter.com/bynRVVUYBU

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 21, 2025

1 hr 35 mins before kickoff: This had the makings of a simmering rivalry on the field until last season brought something of a pause. City hauled in Arsenal and demolished Mikel Arteta's men over the final stretch to win the Premier League title as part of a treble in 2022/23. However, they have not beaten the Gunners since a 4-1 Etihad Stadium success during that run and were taken to the final day in 2023/24. An ill-tempered 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium last September suggested we were in for a bitter battle but City collapsed during the winter, falling away from the title race. Less dramatically, Arsenal did likewise as Liverpool strolled to glory.

2 hours before kickoff. Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Arsenal against Manchester City from Emirates Stadium. It's almost certainly too early in the season to be talking like this, but will today's game tell us who Liverpool's most likely challengers for glory are this term?

Arsenal vs. Man City kick off time

The Premier League match kicks off in London at 4:30 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

Arsenal vs. Man City lineups, team news

Arsenal remain without Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz due to their respective knee problems, although Bukayo Saka is back among the substitutes following his hamstring injury.

Martin Odegaard remains sidelined with a shoulder complaint. Gabriel captains the side in his absence and has his regular centre-back partner William Saliba ​​​​​​back for company.

Leandro Trossard scored in Bilbao in midweek and is rewarded with a start, meaning Eberechi Eze drops to the bench.

Arsenal starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori — Merino, Zubimendi, Rice — Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard

Arsenal subs: Arrizabalaga (GK), Martinelli, Eze, Mosquera, White, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Saka

Pep Guardiola made a late call on the fitness of key midfielder Rodri. The Spain star is still working his way back to his physical peak following ACL surgery a year ago. He started both of the wins against United and Napoli but was substituted during the latter, having experienced discomfort during training on the eve of the game.

Nevertheless, Guardiola has stuck with an unchanged side for the third successive match.

Mateo Kovacic remains unavailable after undergoing Achilles tendon surgery in June, while Rayan Cherki is ruled out due to thigh problems.

Rayan Ait-Nouri has been sidelined with an ankle injury, along with Omar Marmoush, who suffered a knee injury while on international duty with Egypt earlier this month.

Man City starting XI (4-1-4-1, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly — Rodri — Silva, Foden, Reijnders, Doku — Haaland

Man City subs: Trafford (GK), Ake, Stones, Gonzalez, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis

Arsenal vs. Man City live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world's major regions: