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Martinelli’s goal gives Arsenal 1-1 draw against Man City

Published

6 months ago

September 22, 2025

Martinelli’s goal gives Arsenal 1-1 draw against Man City

Arsenal drew with Manchester City in a hard-fought Premier League game, thanks to a stoppage-time equalizer from substitute Gabriel Martinelli.

Martinelli has made an impact off the bench for the second time in a row, after scoring and assisting against Athletic Club in the Champions League in midweek.

Following Tuesday’s success in Bilbao, Arteta stated that his “finishers could be more important” than the starting XI, and that conviction was reinforced at Emirates Stadium.

On Sunday, the Gunners fell behind in the ninth minute after Erling Haaland rolled past David Raya following a blistering City counterattack.

Arsenal battled for an equalizer for much of the second half and was rewarded with Martinelli’s dinked finish in the 93rd minute.

Arteta picked a midfield three of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino, and the Gunners struggled to produce any noteworthy chances before the break, much to the frustration of the home crowd.

Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka, who had returned from hamstring injuries, were introduced at the start of the second half, and the hosts immediately began to play with greater vigor.

Zubimendi fired just over from the edge of the box, and Eze pushed Donnarumma into a great stop as Arsenal sought a leveler.

However, City continued to threaten on the counterattack, with Belgium winger Jeremy Doku serving as their primary outlet.

In the closing stages, City manager Pep Guardiola replied to Arsenal’s threat by switching to a back five as the visitors attempted to maintain their lead.

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However, Martinelli grabbed onto Eze’s injury-time through pass and lifted his effort over the onrushing Donnarumma, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Arteta is currently the only manager to have gone five games unbeaten against Guardiola in his managerial career.

The Gunners came into this game fresh off a stunning win in Bilbao, when the substitutes’ bench made the difference—and it was the ‘finishers’ who saved a point on Sunday.

Arsenal spent £250 million this summer, giving Arteta plenty of options when things don’t go his way, but his team selection in critical games will be crucial if the Gunners are to win a trophy this season.

After starting with the same central midfield (Zubimendi, Rice, and Merino) as in midweek, it was evident early in the first half that Arsenal needed more attacking flair on the field.

The same trio also started the 1-0 loss to Liverpool, prompting criticism of Arteta’s conservative attitude when facing some of their opponents.

The home fans in the stadium got increasingly irritated with their team’s lack of inventiveness, despite Noni Madueke’s efforts, who was the most dangerous player in the first half.

Arteta brought on Eze and Saka at the break, and the impact was apparent, as Arsenal upped the ante and managed to pen City in for lengthy spells.

Martinelli has had an amazing week, scoring two crucial goals in two games following a rough period in his career.

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However, Arteta will continue to face questions about why his team cannot begin matches in the same manner in which they have finished the last two.

City’s world-class striker Haaland is in amazing form, and it appeared that his efforts would be enough to win the game until Martinelli’s late intervention.

The 25-year-old leads the league’s scoring statistics with six goals in five games, having also scored in the Champions League on Thursday and six more for Norway in recent international fixtures.

City’s early goal on the counterattack demonstrated the ruthlessness that Guardiola’s team will need this season, but dropping two points places them eight points behind leaders Liverpool.

The champions are top and have won all five of their games so far, so it was critical that City, who have already lost twice, did not drop any points and lose ground early in the season, but they were unable to complete the task at Emirates Stadium.

Haaland began and finished the play for their goal, recovering the ball in his own half, exchanging passes with the galloping Tijjani Reijnders, and scoring low past Raya’s grasp.

In the first half, City pressed Arsenal high up the pitch and forced mistakes, with Reijnders nearly increasing the lead but having a low shot saved by Raya.

Guardiola was content to sit back and try to finish the game in the second half, opting for a 5-5-0 configuration with Nathan Ake as an additional defender and replacing Haaland with holding midfielder Nico Gonzalez.

However, with time running out, substitute Martinelli’s exquisite finish salvaged a draw that will leave neither City nor the Gunners content, as an ominous-looking Liverpool side leads by five points after as many games.

Martinelli’s goal gives Arsenal 1-1 draw against Man City

Related Topics:Arsenal Man City Martinelli

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Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Published

11 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Lamine Yamal has sparked widespread conversation after condemning the act of mocking religion, describing it as both ignorant and racist.

The FC Barcelona youngster issued the strong warning while reacting to offensive remarks targeting his beliefs, stressing that respect for religion and cultural differences should never be compromised.

According to Yamal, ridiculing someone’s faith goes beyond humor or free speech, and instead reflects a deeper problem of intolerance and lack of understanding in society.

He said acts of religious mockery contribute to division and hostility, especially in a world where diversity continues to grow across communities, sports, and online spaces.

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The teenage football star urged fans and social media users to embrace tolerance, respect, and inclusivity, rather than spreading hate or engaging in abusive behavior.

His comments come amid rising concerns over online abuse in football, where players increasingly face attacks related to race, religion, and personal identity.

Yamal’s stance has drawn praise from supporters and observers who see his response as a bold step in addressing racism in sports and promoting unity among fans worldwide.

As conversations around freedom of expression vs hate speech continue globally, the young star’s message highlights the importance of mutual respect in maintaining harmony both on and off the pitch.

Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Sports

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

Published

17 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the Iran national football team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and play its group stage matches in the United States as originally scheduled, dismissing doubts raised amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Infantino made the announcement on Tuesday during Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Antalya, Turkey, saying, “Iran will be at the World Cup. The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.” He stressed that there is no alternative plan to relocate the games, affirming FIFA’s commitment to keeping the tournament on course.

Iran had previously announced it was negotiating with FIFA to move its matches from the United States to Mexico due to security concerns linked to the ongoing US-Israeli-Iran conflict. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had expressed willingness to host the games if necessary, but FIFA confirmed all three fixtures will remain in the U.S., ensuring compliance with the official tournament draw.

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The Iranian squad is drawn in Group G, alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Their matches are scheduled as follows:

Iran vs New Zealand – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, June 15, 2026
Iran vs Belgium – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, June 21, 2026
Iran vs Egypt – Lumen Field, Seattle, June 26, 2026

Infantino, who attended the friendly match in Turkey, praised the Iranian team as “very, very strong” and confirmed that players and coaches are well-prepared for the tournament. He highlighted FIFA’s principle that all qualified teams must compete according to the official schedule, unaffected by political disputes.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, Vice President of the Iran Football Federation (FFIRI), affirmed Iran’s commitment to FIFA’s regulations, stating: “Every host country has made commitments to FIFA and must honor them.” He said the meeting with Infantino during the friendly gave the team reassurance and a morale boost ahead of the World Cup.

Earlier, some Iranian officials, including Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, had expressed concerns over participation due to safety issues. There were even suggestions that the country might withdraw, but FIFA’s firm stance ensures Iran will compete on U.S. soil as planned.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, featuring 48 teams across multiple North American cities. Iran’s participation guarantees that Group G matches will proceed as drawn, offering fans clarity and ensuring the integrity of the tournament.

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

Sports

Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List

The highest-paid African footballers in 2026 continue to earn staggering wages, with stars in the Saudi Pro League dominating the rankings due to lucrative contracts. From Riyad Mahrez to Mohamed Salah, African players remain among the top earners in global football, earning hundreds of thousands of pounds weekly.

Leading the list is Riyad Mahrez, who earns an estimated £827,000–£886,000 per week at Al-Ahli, making him the highest-paid African footballer. He is followed by Sadio Mané, who earns around £630,000–£680,000 weekly at Al-Nassr.

Defender Kalidou Koulibaly earns about £550,000–£590,000 weekly at Al-Hilal, making him the highest-paid African defender. In Europe, Mohamed Salah continues to command massive wages of £350,000–£400,000 per week at Liverpool FC.

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Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen earns between £250,000–£318,000 weekly at Galatasaray, making him one of the highest-paid Nigerian footballers.

Midfielder Franck Kessié and defender Achraf Hakimi both earn just over £220,000 per week, playing for Al-Ahli and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy earns up to £200,000 weekly, while Iñaki Williams takes home about £180,000 per week at Athletic Bilbao. Veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completes the list with weekly earnings of £150,000–£160,000 at Al-Qadsiah.

Top 10 Highest-Paid African Footballers (2026) – Weekly Salaries

Rank	Player	Club	Weekly Salary
1	Riyad Mahrez	Al-Ahli	£827,000 – £886,000
2	Sadio Mané	Al-Nassr	£630,000 – £680,000
3	Kalidou Koulibaly	Al-Hilal	£550,000 – £590,000
4	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool FC	£350,000 – £400,000
5	Victor Osimhen	Galatasaray	£250,000 – £318,000
6	Franck Kessié	Al-Ahli	£220,000 – £233,000
7	Achraf Hakimi	Paris Saint-Germain	£220,000 – £227,000
8	Edouard Mendy	Al-Ahli	£170,000 – £200,000
9	Iñaki Williams	Athletic Bilbao	~£180,000
10	Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	Al-Qadsiah	£150,000 – £160,000

The rankings underline the growing dominance of the Saudi Pro League, which now offers significantly higher wages than most European leagues, attracting top African talent. Only a few players, such as Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi, remain among the top earners in Europe.