Arsenal jumps to the joint top position in the Premier League. The Gunners even recorded a somewhat historic 1-0 win against Man City, because it had already been 2015 since they had beaten The Citizens. The City fans did call Jérémy Doku from the bench, but the sprint bomb could not explode this time.
Pep Guardiola’s arm was around his shoulder, the holes were cut in the back of his stockings. It was minute ’67 in the top match and that was the moment all Man City fans were waiting for: Jeremy Doku’s entry onto the pitch. Okay, it was a triple substitution because John Stones and Matheus Nunes also came on the field for The Citizens, but the blue supporters hoped for Doku-ball to break open this closed match. It remains remarkable how the lightning-fast Red Devil has already stolen hearts in England.
VAR stuff
The clash between Arsenal and Manchester City had actually been a fluke until then. The visitors had the best options, but they missed the genius of Kevin De Bruyne and the directorial qualities of Rodri. It was Nathan Aké who missed a good chance. At Arsenal, Leandro Trossard was in the starting line-up – also because Saka was injured – but this Belgian was unable to make his mark at all. He barely featured in the play and was substituted at half-time by Gabriel Martinelli. The latter was more splitting than the Belgian without being really dangerous. Whether Trossard will soon be able to claim a starting place at the Red Devils is very questionable, perhaps not.
Before the break there was excitement twice more and that was when Man City defender Matteo Kovacic made a heavy tackle on Martin Odegaard. He hit him full on the ankle that collapsed, but the VAR did not intervene. Then why is that video ref even there? Kovacic only received a yellow card for this ankle breaker and a few minutes later actually made another dangerous tackle on Declan Rice. He should have always been excluded.
That could have broken open this match in which hardly any risks were taken. Unfortunately. Now everyone with blue blood hoped that Jérémy Doku would be the can opener. Hadn’t he come on as a substitute in the Champions League last week and scored against Leipzig? Immediately when the young Belgian was on the field, you felt more fear in the Arsenal stadium. However, defender Zinchenko also did not make himself known. He stood firm several times, but still a few crosses came without result.
Arsenal breaks curse
Pep Guardiola intervened and had Phil Foden and Jérémy Doku switch flanks to give the sprint bomb more freedom of movement, but his fellow coach Mikel Arteta also made his changes and adjustments. While Man City seemed to be taking more and more control, Arsenal suddenly struck. It was Kai Havertz who set up the ball and Martinelli scored the 1-0 with a deflected ball. The Gunners thus share the lead in the Premier League with Tottenham, and they also broke a curse. It had already been 15 league matches or 2548 days ago – from December 21, 2015 – that Arsenal had beaten Manchester City again. Recently they even suffered 12 defeats in a row, but now Mikel Arteta beat his teacher Pep Guardiola for the first time. Doku couldn’t change that either.