Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta’s key trio named after gesture as Gunners star ignores advice

Arsenal are back at the Premier League summit alongside rivals Tottenham after earning a memorable victory over Manchester City courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner

There may be one or two sore heads around north London this morning after Arsenal’s huge statement victory over Manchester City sent the Gunners joint-top of the Premier League on Sunday.

Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner ensured Mikel Arteta finally got one over his old master Pep Guardiola and handed Arsenal a major boost of confidence in the title race. It wasn’t all plain-sailing at the Emirates Stadium, though, as a jittery start from goalkeeper David Raya has called Arteta’s selection into question.

All eyes are now on whether Arsenal can build on their crucial win – which they achieved without the services of injured superstar Bukayo Saka. In bad news for Arsenal, William Saliba also picked up an injury during the match – a player Gary Neville feels Arteta cannot do without if they are to win the title.

Martinelli ignores advice

Arsenal’s match-winner stepped up when it mattered most after coming off the bench to grab the all-important goal in the 87th minute which got the Emirates Stadium truly rocking.

But Gabriel Martinelli may not have even been in the squad for the visit of City were it not for his determination to prove Arsenal’s physios wrong. They advised the Brazilian forward that the crunch showdown had come too soon for him to be involved.

Martinelli wouldn’t take no for an answer though, as Arteta revealed in his post-match comments.

Martinelli and Saka may be Arsenal’s danger men going forward, but Gary Neville feels it is three of their team-mates Arteta can ill-afford to lose if the Gunners are to go all the way this season.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes kept Erling Haaland quiet during their win over City, while Declan Rice has become an integral part of Arsenal’s side just a few months into his time at the Emirates.

Neville has backed Arsenal to lift the title since the beginning of the season but insisted: “They will not win the league if they don’t have the two centre-backs and Rice.”

Arteta’s gesture to Raya

Arsenal’s new No.1 endured a difficult afternoon in front of a packed house at the Emirates following his error in midweek against Lens.

Raya nearly gifted City a goal when he dallied on the ball allowing Julian Alvarez time to charge down his clearance which nearly flew in. You could feel the nerves swirling round the stadium as Raya failed to convince while Aaron Ramsdale was watching on.

Fortunately for the Spanish stopper, he grew into the game and was a more calming presence second half, and Arteta showed his appreciation by giving him a huge hug straight after the final whistle as he praised him in his post-match interview.

Arsenal’s trip to Sevilla after the international break may have been made slightly trickier as the Spanish club have sacked manager Jose Luis Mendilibar.