The decisive passage of this match probably occurred about 10 minutes in. It did not result in a goal. It didn’t even result in a shot. But in a way, everything that comes after flows from that moment.
Here’s what happened: David Raya intercepts Liverpool’s cross and, with a fluid movement, lobs the ball to Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing. Martinelli is running. And he’s running. And he keeps running. The crowd at the Emirates Stadium is on its feet and shouting Martinelli like a winning racehorse.
Relating to: Arsenal rekindle title hopes as Gabriel Martinelli punishes Liverpool mistake
Finally Martinelli crossed – a good cross – and Bukayo Saka probably should have done much better to head it in. But those few seconds change everything. Ibrahima Konaté, who was shamefully beaten for pace, was never the same defender again and ended his sloppy performance with a red card. Liverpool’s weakness against counter-attacks is emerging and has been a factor in the three goals they conceded. Raya’s confidence is growing and she will continue to play a (largely) assured game. Most importantly, he establishes this play as the joint work of Gabriel Martinelli.
And at least this season, those are becoming increasingly rare occurrences. The player, who lit up Arsenal’s title challenge last season by scoring eight goals in 10 games, came into this weekend with just four league goals to his name. He still hasn’t played every 90 minutes in the league since November or provided an assist since September. There are rumors circulating in small sections of the fanbase that Leandro Trossard could be a better long-term option on the left wing, perhaps even calling for an upgrade in the transfer market.
But there are also games that feel a little different; Giving up and promising games are games where Martinelli can stretch his legs and show his class. When there are plenty of green pastures to run on and a strong defense to penetrate. These matches do not come along very often for Arsenal. But when they do, they tend to be important. And here Liverpool discovered that Arsenal, for all their improved technical quality, are a truly superb counter-attacking team if you are stupid enough to let them counter-attack.
And when this space is opened, there is a kind of despair in Martinelli; He realizes that this opportunity, this pure fresh air, may not come again for weeks. Being an Arsenal winger these days means being trapped in a prison of hopeful little moves, innocuous sideways passes, hordes of defenders, low blocks and low percentages. Maybe that’s why he seems like a man who runs for freedom whenever he gets the chance.
The waif Trent Alexander‑Arnold was sent off before his hour, enchanted and evaporated. Gabriel headed a seemingly innocuous long ball over the top, while Martinelli went after Virgil van Dijk. Against almost all attacking players, Van Dijk clears the ball or collects it in his stride. But it’s like Martinelli ticking away and suddenly one of the best defenders in the world is preoccupied with cutting off his run rather than approaching the ball.
Maybe Martinelli will get the chance after all. Van Dijk’s hard push throws him off balance, forcing Alisson to clear the ball while also trying to avoid a collision with the biggest player on the pitch. In the confusion, Martinelli slotted the ball into the empty net to score his fifth goal against Liverpool; it was his highest ever goal against a Premier League team.
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Relating to: ‘We’re there, that’s for sure’: Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are back in title race
Looking at the goals Martinelli has scored this season, his role at Arsenal is starting to become a little clearer. It was his seventh and, in truth, none of them were Arsenal’s normal ‘during’ goals. Two of them are on the counter-attack against a weakened Crystal Palace. Three against Manchester City, Lens and Sevilla, all resulting from through balls from outside the defence. A goal against Luton with a quick throw-in while the goalkeeper was still out of position. And now the strange clash between two of the best players in the world.
Beyond the headline numbers, Martinelli has actually become an even more integral part of Arsenal’s style of play this season. He makes more contact, dribbles more, encounters more defenders. Perhaps the introduction of Kai Havertz in place of Granit
And maybe Martinelli will never be the star kid, the shooting monster, one of those forwards who reliably puts up big numbers. Maybe he’s the man who can master rare but vital moments of chaos: the 60-yard dribble, the lightning strike, the freak change of direction. In a “tough” season, he scored the decisive goals against Arsenal’s two main title rivals. Perhaps upon reflection, things will come to plan.