Arsenal 1-0 Man City: Fabregas, Schmeichel: Arsenal have made a big statement with win

Former Arsenal captain and Premier League pundit Cesc Fabregas believes Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have made a big statement with their 1-0 defeat of Manchester City Sunday evening at the Emirates stadium.

Fabregas who made 350 Premier League appearances and won two Premier League titles also believes Arsenal deserved to win the pulsating matchweek eight game.

“It’s big, it’s a big statement for Arsenal. It’s a long time since they’ve won against Manchester City, so this is a big moment for the players. It was a good call bringing on Martinelli, attacking the space and taking on Walker one-on-one. It was a 50-50 game, but if anyone deserved to win, it was Arsenal,” said the Spaniard who scored 50 times and provided 111 assists in the competition.

Gabriel Martinelli came on in the second half to score the winner and end their horror run against Man City! 12 straight PL defeats, 16 in a row without a clean sheet.

The goal was made by all four second half substitutes with Thomas Partey finding Takehiro Tomiyasu with a long ball. The Japanese headed it to Kai Havertz, whose chest control takes it into the path of Martinelli, and his effort is deflected past Ederson by a touch against Nathan Ake’s face.

Peter Schmeichel, a former Manchester United and Manchester City goalkeeper also supported Fabregas’ sentiments.

‘Today was a statement. I think some of the results they have had this season have been big statements.

‘This game was achieved without Saka. I think that is a statement.

‘It wasn’t a great game but it was clear that Arteta desperately wanted to beat Guardiola.

‘At the end of the day, Arteta comes out of this as a winner. The goal came from his substitutes. He changed the course of the game,’ said Schmeichel who kept 128 clean sheets in 310 Premier League appearances.