Substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Arsenal drew with Manchester City in a hard-fought Premier League game.
It is the second match in a row that Martinelli has made an impact off the bench, having provided a goal and assist against Athletic Club in the Champions League in midweek.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his “finishers could be more important” than the starting XI after Tuesday’s win in Bilbao – and that belief was again backed up at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners went behind in the ninth minute on Sunday when Erling Haaland rolled past David Raya at the end of a devastating City counter-attack.
Arsenal pushed for an equaliser for much of the second half and were rewarded with Martinelli’s dinked finish in the 93rd minute.
Arteta again named a midfield three of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino and the Gunners struggled to create any chances of note before the break, much to the frustration of the home crowd.
Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka, who was returning from a hamstring injury, were introduced at the start of the second half and the hosts immediately started playing with more intensity.
Zubimendi shot just over from the edge of the box and Eze forced Donnarumma into a smart save as Arsenal chased a leveller.
However, City continued to threaten on the counter-attack, with Belgium winger Jeremy Doku their main outlet.
In the latter stages, City boss Pep Guardiola responded to Arsenal’s threat by switching to a back five as the visitors looked to protect their lead.
However, Martinelli latched on to Eze’s injury-time through ball and lifted his finish over the onrushing Donnarumma to the jubilation of the home fans.
Arteta is now the only boss to have gone five successive games unbeaten against Guardiola in his managerial career.
The Gunners came into this game after an impressive win in Bilbao where the substitutes’ bench proved the difference – and it was the ‘finishers’ who rescued a point on Sunday.
The £250m Arsenal spent this summer means the club have given Arteta an abundance of options when things are not going his way, but his team selection in big games is going to be key if the Gunners are to lift a trophy this season.
Having started with the same central midfield – Zubimendi, Rice and Merino – as in midweek, it was clear early on in the first half that Arsenal needed some more attacking flair on the pitch.
The same trio also began the 1-0 loss to Liverpool and led to criticism of Arteta’s conservative approach when playing against some of their rivals.
The home supporters in the stadium became increasingly frustrated with their side’s lack of creativity, despite the efforts of Noni Madueke who was the most threatening player in the opening 45 minutes.
Arteta brought on Eze and Saka at the break and the impact was immediate as Arsenal upped the ante and managed to pen City in for large spells.
This has been an excellent week for Martinelli who has scored two important goals in two games after a difficult time in his career.
However, the questions will continue to come for Arteta about why his side cannot start matches in the same manner they have finished the last two.
In Haaland, City have a world-class striker who is in incredible form – and it looked like his effort was going to settle the game before Martinelli’s late intervention.
The 25-year-old leads the league’s scoring charts with six goals in five matches, having also netted in the Champions League on Thursday and notched a further six for Norway during the recent internationals.
City’s opening goal on the counter-attack displayed a ruthlessness that will be required by Guardiola’s side this season, but dropping two points leaves them eight behind leaders Liverpool already.
The champions sit top and have won all five of their games so far, so it was imperative City – who have already lost twice – did not drop any points and lose further ground early on in the campaign, but they could not finish the job at Emirates Stadium.
Haaland started and finished the move for their goal – winning the ball in his own half before exchanging passes with the galloping Tijjani Reijnders and finishing low past the reach of Raya.
City pressed Arsenal high up the pitch in the first half and forced mistakes, with Reijnders almost doubling the advantage but seeing a low drive batted away by Raya.
Guardiola was happy to sit back and try to see out the match in the second half, switching to a 5-5-0 formation by bringing on an extra defender in Nathan Ake and replacing Haaland with holding midfielder Nico Gonzalez.
However, with time running out, substitute Martinelli’s delightful finish salvaged a draw which will leave neither City nor the Gunners satisfied, as an ominous-looking Liverpool side are five points clear after as many games.
By BBC Sports
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