Premier League: Late Gabriel Martinelli goal denies Manchester City win, Aston Villa still winless

Gabriel Martinelli struck deep into stoppage time to earn Arsenal a 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, keeping the Gunners within sight of the Premier League summit.

City had led from the ninth minute after Erling Haaland finished off a swift counter-attack. The Norwegian forward began the move in his own half, linked up with Tijjani Reijnders, and raced clear to slot past David Raya. Haaland’s goal was his 13th of the season for club and country.

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Arsenal found it difficult to respond in a subdued first half, their best chance falling to Noni Madueke, whose strike was pushed away by Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian goalkeeper has settled quickly since joining City and produced another key save to deny Eberechi Eze in the second half.

Mikel Arteta introduced Bukayo Saka and Eze after the break in search of creativity, but City sat deeper as Pep Guardiola withdrew Haaland and Phil Foden to reinforce his defence. That approach looked set to secure three points until Martinelli, on as a substitute, latched onto Eze’s lofted pass and lifted the ball over Donnarumma in the 93rd minute.

The result leaves Arsenal second in the table, five points behind leaders Liverpool, while City sit ninth.

Villa remain winless

Aston Villa’s poor start under Unai Emery showed no signs of easing as they were held 1-1 at 10-man Sunderland.

The hosts lost Reinildo Mandava to a red card in the 33rd minute for an off-the-ball kick at Matty Cash. Villa, without a goal in their previous four league outings, finally ended that drought when Cash’s long-range strike beat goalkeeper Robin Roefs in the 41st minute.

But the advantage was short-lived. Wilson Isidor levelled eight minutes later, capitalising on Granit Xhaka’s header for his third goal in as many league matches at the Stadium of Light.

Emery admitted his side failed to impose themselves despite the numerical advantage. “It should have been easier to take advantage (against 10 men) but we were not playing with our identity, with the ideas we have been building in the last three years,” he said, as quoted by AFP.

The draw leaves Villa in the bottom three with three points from five games, while Sunderland move into seventh.

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