Martinelli's late equaliser against City inspired by girlfriend's message

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli produced a dramatic late equaliser against Manchester City at the Emirates, a moment the club attributed in part to a short message from his partner before the game. The 24-year-old had been deployed off the bench as Mikel Arteta rotated his attack with summer signings Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze starting on the wings, leaving Martinelli to be used as an impact option rather than a regular in the starting XI.

Before kickoff, Isabella shared a WhatsApp screenshot with her 213,000 Instagram followers in which she told him: 'You'll play against tired legs and you'll score. You'll see.' The message, according to the notes, served as a boost as Martinelli waited for his chance.

Martinelli did come on and latched onto a pinpoint pass from Eze before lofting the ball over City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to earn the dramatic late equaliser. The goal capped Arsenal's response after City had taken the lead earlier in the match and underscored the team's growing depth as the season progresses.

Arteta credited Martinelli's mentality and the mood in the squad for the late rally. 'I adore Gabriel. His attitude, his commitment, his positivity, what he's willing to do for the team. As a family, we value all the qualities that he has, and he brings to the team. I was sure that Gabby was going to react like that. You raise the level to Gabby and he was going to do that. He has such a mentality. That's the moment that hopefully is going to give him the confidence to go again, because he's an outstanding player.' He added that he had scanned the bench and seen both Martinelli and Leandro Trossard ready to contribute when called upon, and praised the substitutes for delivering impact when needed. 'They (substitutes) are at least equally important or more important than the starters. Especially with the intensity that we play when the team starts to drop off. I'm very pleased to see that. And Piero Hincapie comes in and plays six minutes, the best six minutes he's played. Christian Norgaard is the same, and that's the attitude that we need from all of us.'

Arsenal's summer overhaul included splurging £250 million to strengthen the squad, with Arteta saying the depth now being shown is crucial as the team chases major honours. The manager pointed to recent Champions League form, including a win against Athletic Bilbao, as evidence that the squad can sustain performances across competitions. The combination of Madueke on the left and Eze cutting in behind the central striker has given Arteta flexibility in the frontline, while Martinelli has demonstrated he can influence games when called upon from the bench.

As the season progresses, Arteta and the club are emphasizing a balanced approach to squad use, with substitutes playing a clear role in maintaining pressure and managing fatigue during a busy schedule. The message from Isabella, whether coincidental or not, sits alongside a broader narrative about Arsenal's evolving dynamics and their bid for consistency in a highly competitive title race.