Twin Tests: Part I

September 21, 2025  Emirates Stadium, London

The shadow of February’s 5–1 thrashing still hangs heavy. That night Arsenal did not beat Manchester City; they dismantled them. Ødegaard opened with authority, Nwaneri—still a boy—lashed in a strike of adult certainty, and Lewis Kelly mocked Haaland with his own meditative celebration, palms pressed as if to murmur: be humble. Martinelli, eternal tormentor, stitched his partnership with Havertz into something exquisite.

Now, history’s echo beckoned. Arsenal had not claimed back-to-back league wins over City since 2015. For Mikel Arteta, this was more than points: to remain unbeaten in five consecutive league meetings with Pep Guardiola—his mentor, his standard-bearer—would be unprecedented. 

Arsenal began with command—80 percent possession in ten minutes—but their first lapse proved fatal. Haaland drifted between Gabriel and Saliba, fed by Reijnders, and buried the opener. Nine minutes. One chance. One strike. His seventh contribution in City’s last nine goals against Arsenal.

City then leaned into pragmatism. Time stretched thin: Reijnders crumpled theatrically, Donnarumma milked each restart. Arsenal’s answer was Madueke—double-marked, still breaking free. He carved for Calafiori, saw a header glance wide, a shot deflect over. 

Tempers flared before the interval—Trossard and Silva chest to chest—evidence of pressure rising. 

At half-time Arteta gambled. Madueke and Merino off, Eze and Saka on. Guardiola pulled City into their shell. Aké on. Then Nico González for Haaland. City retreated to a 5-4-1, lines drawn, survival over style—Guardiola at his most un-Guardiola. Arteta doubled down. Timber sacrificed, Martinelli loosed. Nwaneri thrown on. Shape twisted to a 3-2-4-1: all in.

It was Martinelli, once again, who punished them. With ten left, Eze floated a pass. Martinelli’s first touch cushioned, his second lifted the ball over Donnarumma. Three touches: vision, control, finish. Arsenal 1, City 1.

The table told another story—Liverpool the real winners—but history was still made: five unbeaten against Guardiola. No one else has done it.

Arsenal 1 – 1 Manchester City

(E. Halland ‘9, G. Martinelli ‘90+3)