Analysis of Arsenal's Standout Performers and Underachievers in Crucial Victory against Man City

Finally. After eight years and 12 consecutive defeats, Arsenal have finally beaten Manchester City in the Premier League.

With both teams mustering just one shot on target each throughout 85 minutes of the clash, the game looked set to peter out and end in a rather bore 0-0 draw.

That was until Gabriel Martinelli latched onto a pass from Kai Havertz and fired a shot goalward which, after deflecting off the unfortunate Nathan Ake, nestled in the back of the net.

Here's Arsenal's best and worst players in the win over Man City, according to 90min's player ratings:

After five games on the sidelines, Gabriel Martinelli came off of the bench for the second half of the game on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium and ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides.

The Brazilian immediately added a spark to Arsenal's attack when he was introduced by Mikel Arteta, causing havoc on the left flank with his direct running and willingness to just try things on the ball.

Martinelli conjured up both of Arsenal's shots on target during the game, with the second one being the game-winning contribution.

This was the sort of game that Declan Rices was signed for and boy did he deliver.

The midfielder was almost omnipresent on the television screen throughout the game at the Emirates, completing 90% of his passes, making three interceptions, winning four duals and generally completely dominating the middle of the park.

Rice's most telling contribution of the game came in the fourth minute, when he raced back to his goal line to prevent a Josko Gvardiol volley from hitting the back of the net.

Signed in the summer due to his competency on the ball, David Raya looked extremely uncomfortable every time he was in possession on Sunday.

In the first half in particular, the Spaniard simply couldn't cope with the ferocity of Man City's offensive press and almost cost his side a goal early on when Julian Alvarez blocked an attempted clearance from just inside the six-yard box. The ball would just spin wide of the post, sparing Raya's blushes.

Trossard just wasn't at the races in either game this week.

In Lens he failed to really effect proceedings, and in the first half in north London at the weekend he endured a similar outing.

The return of Martinelli from injury will see his minutes on the pitch plummet in the coming weeks.