Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score a superb injury-time equaliser and claim a point against Manchester City.
In a first half of few clearcut chances, Erling Haaland had slid home the opener inside ten minutes – a goal that came out of nothing for the visitors.
We created more in the second half, with Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard having shots blocked, but time looked to be running out until Martinelli’s superb late lob.
He raced onto an Eze ball over the top before lifting his shot over Gianluigi Donnarumma and under the bar to earn a share of the spoils.
City strike FIRST
We had enjoyed just under 80 per cent of the possession in the opening 10 minutes, but it counted for nothing when the visitors took the lead with their first attack of the game.
There seemed to be no trouble at all when we had the ball inside the centre circle, but all of a sudden Halaand won possession and sprung a counter attack.
Tijjani Reijnders raced away and slipped in the overlapping Haaland for the Norwegian to stroke into the corner.
It was the first goal we had conceded from open play all season. City’s next chance came when Mikel Merino was tackled just outside his own area, the ball was moved along to Reijnders, but his shot trickled through to David Raya.
Patient build up
We needed to create something at the other end. Merino nearly set Leandro Trossard away through the middle, but Abdukodir Khusanov recovered well to snuff out the danger.
Noni Madueke’s sheer strength and persistence carved out our next chance. With the odds against him, he beat two players to get to the byline and cut the ball back for the arriving Riccardo Calafiori, but City just about cleared their lines.
Our first attempt on goal didn’t come until past the hour hark mark though, when Madueke headed wide. He then had a shot deflected over, from a move started by a storming Rice run.
We finished the half strongly, and Donnarumma was called upon two or three times to claim dangerous crosses. He then saved at his near post from Madueke as we ticked into injury time.
Double change
Mikel Arteta sent on Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka for the second half, with Merino and Madueke both withdrawn. The manager sent his players out early fir the second period, clearly demanding a fast start, and Martin Zubimendi fired over from the edge of the area early on. Eze then warmed the palms of Donnarumma with a fizzing drive.
Haaland drew a low save from Raya following another counter-attack. The backtracking Eze cleared the rebound, which bounced off Rice and just over our own crossbar.
We stepped up the pressure. Trossard had a shot charged down at the near post, then his low cross through the six-yard box eluded everyone.
Gabi’s late lob
City brought on defensive reinforcements to stifle our play, and it looked as though their deep block would reap dividends, until Martinelli’s late, late strike. Eze had the ball in the centre circle, and lifted a fine pass over the top to the Brazilian – who had only been on for 10 minutes. he took a superb touch before lifting the ball perfectly over Donnarumma and in for a late, late deserved point.
What’s next
We switch our attentions to domestic cup action on Wednesday, when we travel to take on Port Vale in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Premier League action resumes next weekend, away to Newcastle United on Sunday, September 28.
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