Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City Player Ratings: Declan Rice 8.5/10 Rated as Late Martinelli Goal Sees Spoils Shared in 1-1 Draw

A classic Premier League tactical battle that exploded into life right at the start and the very end. The visitors, Man City, looked to have this one in the bag. They silenced the home crowd early. Erling Haaland did what he does best, pouncing on a swift counterattack to give City the lead inside just nine minutes. For large parts of the match, Arsenal huffed and puffed but couldn't seem to find a way through a well-drilled City defence. It felt like one of those frustrating afternoons for the Gunners.

But you can never count them out. Just when it seemed like City would grind out a 1-0 win, the game turned on its head. Substitute Gabriel Martinelli popped up with a dramatic equalizer deep into stoppage time, sending the Emirates Stadium into a frenzy. A 1-1 draw felt about right in the end, a testament to Arsenal's never-say-die attitude. Here are the Arsenal vs Man City player ratings.

Man City Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Here are the Man City player ratings vs Arsenal.

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6.5: The Italian goalkeeper made two decent saves, including a key one from Eze, but his distribution was questionable. An error led to a shot, and he picked up a yellow for time-wasting, which ultimately proved pointless. Not his most commanding display.

Defenders

Rúben Dias - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet and ineffective game from the City powerhouse. He won only one of his five aerial duels which is not like him at all. He made a few clearances but from our perspective, he never really imposed himself on the Arsenal forwards. A day to forget.

Josko Gvardiol - 7.0: A really solid outing for the Croatian. He was a rock at the back, racking up nine clearances and a couple of important interceptions. We noticed his composure on the ball was excellent under pressure. Probably City's best defender on the day.

Nico O'Reilly - 6.5: Did his job without much fuss before being forced off with an injury late in the game. He was steady for the most part, contributing defensively with tackles and clearances. It was a shame to see him go off injured.

Abdukodir Khusanov - 6.0: He had a tough time, going down with an injury twice before being hooked at halftime. He never really got a chance to settle into the match. It's hard to rate him properly, but he struggled to make any real impact in his 45 minutes.

Midfielders

Tijjani Reijnders - 7.5: What stood out to us was his creative influence. He provided a superb assist for Haaland's goal. He was constantly trying to make things happen, creating two big chances for his team. A very bright and inventive performance in the City midfield.

Rodri - 7.0: The usual metronome at the base of the midfield. He broke up play effectively and his 11 clearances show how important his defensive screening was. He kept City ticking over but wasn't as dominant as we've seen him in the past. Solid but unspectacular.

Bernardo Silva - 6.5: Tireless work rate as always, you can't fault his effort. He drew several fouls and carried the ball well at times. However, his final product was lacking and he didn't create much of note. A frustrating afternoon for the captain.

Jérémy Doku - 7.0: Electrifying on the ball. His five successful dribbles caused Arsenal's defence all sorts of problems. The downside was his wastefulness; he missed a big chance that could have sealed the game. A thrilling but ultimately frustrating performance.

Phil Foden - 6.5: A very subdued performance from a player we expect so much from. He was largely on the periphery of the action and struggled to get involved. It was no surprise when he was substituted after 68 minutes.

Forwards

Erling Haaland - 7.5: Classic Haaland. He had very few touches but was lethal when his chance came, taking his goal with clinical precision. He was a physical nuisance for the Arsenal defence all game, even if he was starved of service for long periods. Job done.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 6.5: His game plan worked perfectly for about 90 minutes. City scored early and controlled the tempo, frustrating Arsenal. However, his side couldn't find the killer second goal and his substitutions failed to see the game out. He'll be furious they conceded so late.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Man City

Here are the Arsenal player ratings vs Man City

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6.5: He couldn't have done much about Haaland's clinical finish. Made a couple of important saves to keep Arsenal in the game. His distribution was solid, launching attacks from the back. A decent performance overall.

Defenders

William Saliba - 8.0: A colossal performance. He was immense, winning an incredible 10 out of 12 duels. He was so composed on the ball, striding out of defence with confidence and boasting a 96% pass accuracy. He barely put a foot wrong.

Gabriel Magalhães - 6.5: A solid partner for Saliba but not quite as dominant. He was strong in the tackle and made some crucial clearances. However, he was dribbled past a couple of times and didn't look as comfortable as his centre-back partner.

Jurriën Timber - 7.0: An all-action display from the full-back. He was a machine, making six successful tackles. He also got forward to support the attack, though his final ball could have been better. His booking was the only real blot on his copybook.

Riccardo Calafiori - 6.5: A very mixed bag. He was a willing runner down the left and wasn't afraid to shoot, though his finishing was wild. Defensively, he looked a bit rash, committing three fouls and getting caught out of position at times.

Midfielders

Declan Rice - 8.5: Our Man of the Match, without a doubt. What a performance. He was absolutely everywhere, covering every blade of grass and breaking up City's attacks. His range of passing was phenomenal, completing all eight of his long balls. A truly world-class display and our highest-rated player.

Martín Zubimendi - 6.5: Kept possession ticking over neatly in the middle of the park. He was tidy and efficient, but perhaps a bit too safe. We felt he could have been more adventurous with his passing to help break City down.

Mikel Merino - 6.0: A really anonymous first half from the midfielder. He struggled to get on the ball and make an impact on the game. It was the right call to substitute him at the break.

Forwards

Leandro Trossard - 7.0: One of Arsenal's brighter sparks in a frustrating display. He was always looking for the ball and trying to create something. He worked his socks off defensively too, which didn't go unnoticed. A good shift.

Viktor Gyökeres - 6.0: It was a thankless task for him up front. He was isolated and well-marshalled by City's defence. He lost the physical battle, winning just two of his seven duels, and couldn't hold the ball up effectively.

Noni Madueke - 5.5: A performance to forget. He missed a big chance in the first half and was incredibly wasteful in possession. He looked off the pace and was rightly hooked at halftime. A disappointing display from a talented player.

Manager

M. Arteta - 7.5: He got his initial setup wrong, with his team looking sluggish in the first half. But credit where it's due, his halftime changes completely altered the game's dynamic. His substitutions were bold and ultimately paid off, with Martinelli grabbing the vital equaliser. He rescued a point for his team.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Declan Rice