Mikel Arteta got the scope for Man City, and made it consistent

Arsenal finally earned their first Premier League win over Manchester City since December 2015 and a win which is their first in the competition over Pep Guardiola.

Gabriel Martinelli's late goal made the difference when both clashed at the Emirates on Sunday evening, helping the host end a run of twelve straight League defeats against the treble winners, their most against a single opponent in the competition history.

Since Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud scored two quick fire double to help Arsene Wenger's side seal a 2-1 win over Manuel Pellegrini's Cityzens few days before Christmas in 2015, Arsenal had failed in all their attempts to secure maximum points against City in the Premier League.

Manchester City were on a run of 15 League games unbeaten against Arsenal heading into Sunday's fixture, although Mikel Arteta had been victorious in other competitions like the in FA Cup semi final in his first six months, and the Community Shield earlier this season.

City had won each of their last 12 meetings in the competition and it was turning out to be same old story every time they two face-off.

However, the Spaniard had always bowed to his master whenever they clashed in the Premier League but on Sunday, he rebelled his way to a win thanks to Gabriel Martinelli's goal on return from injury.

Arsenal - City a show of no treat

Henceforth, the fixture between Arsenal and Manchester City is not one of those games you watch for the excitement, albeit in rare moments it can be thrilling but when both have their best lined up, expect a boring affair.

Mikel Arteta now understands what it takes to beat or equal City and that is patience. Despite being their better self, Pep Guardiola's side does not hasty things when they come up against a calm side.

Instead, they pass the ball around on one side of the pitch, preferably the weaker side of the opponent while they leave the other side isolated, with a player of their own there to wreck havoc once the play is switched.

Arteta understands this and in the Community Shield match earlier in the season, his side did not get carried away and never lost focus, even as Manchester City dominated the early exchange and asked all the questions.

They waited and continued to persevere, keep shape and frustrate their opponent until they got going as well and started to even the game.

On Sunday, it was even a better showing than the one at Wembley. Manchester City were limited to four shots in total, which is their lowest in a Premier League game under Pep Guardiola.

Their only shot on target came in the fourth minute, courtesy of Josko Gvardiol while Erling Haaland, for the second game running against Arsenal had an expected goal of 0.00.

Though it is worthy of note that City was without the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Rodrigo Hernandez but it was a win that was always coming for Arsenal, and the absence of the two would do nothing to discredit them.

Arsenal are always going to become a tough one for Manchester City and even Pep Guardiola knew it.

While talking about the Mikel Arteta's side after winning 1-0 in the Emirates back in February 2021, the former Barcelona manager said; "Early in the future, they will be real contender to fight for the title."

Last season, they were lose to doing so but having lost over two legs to Manchester City and suffered a late season collapse, they missed out on the league title by only five points.

Beating Manchester City in the league is by far their biggest league achievement under Arteta albeit they have also been able to end winless run at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and away to Tottenham under the Spaniard.

Their most recent win is one of huge significance, one that will continue to spur then on over the course of the season as they will be expected to push all the way for the Premier League title.

Hassan Afolabi