Gary Neville thinks two Arsenal players deserve all the ‘credit’ for Man City draw

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Gary Neville chose to shout out two Arsenal players during the Gunners’ late draw against Manchester City.

Arsenal looked tactically stale in the first half of the match after Erling Haaland stunned the Emirates in the ninth minute. 

Mikel Arteta noticed his side was struggling, so made two key changes at the interval, bringing on Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze. 

After the substitutes won Arsenal the game against Athletic Club, changes made all the difference again, with Eze and Gabriel Martinelli combining for the equaliser. 

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Gary Neville applauds Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli vs Manchester City

Martinelli was the hero in Bilbao and was the man of the moment again, scoring Arsenal’s equaliser in the 93rd minute. 

Arteta was reluctant to start Eze in the number ten role, but when the Englishman was granted permission to play his favoured position, he delivered. 

At full-time, Gary Neville applauded the two players’ impact on the game, giving a shout-out to Eze and Martinelli.

“Credit to Eze and Martinelli, a bit of brilliance towards the end,” Neville said on Sky Sports [21/09/25 18:34]

Very few could’ve picked out the pass that Eze did, with Martinelli’s run and sublime finish also deserving a lot of credit.

Arteta’s substitutes made the headlines once again as, finally, the Arsenal manager appeared to learn from past mistakes. 

Mikel Arteta accepted his mistake

Arteta’s team selection has been blasted this season, and there will be questions asked again as Mikel Merino was started ahead of Eze in central attacking midfield once again. 

There was, however, a difference from the boss, who can come across as stubborn at times, as the Spaniard realised he had made a mistake. 

At half-time, Arteta replaced Noni Madueke and Merino with Saka and Eze, then introduced Martinelli’s pace and power in the 80th minute.

Arteta wasn’t afraid to make early changes, something Arsenal fans would’ve been yearning for after a stagnant first half.

With Newcastle United up next in the Premier League, there will be eyes on whether Arteta changes his starting XI after the drama on matchday five.