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Gabriel Martinelli says Arsenal\u2019s inherent belief will only be boosted by beating champions Manchester City as Mikel Arteta\u2019s men look to go one step further than last season.<\/p>\n
The Gunners captured the imagination during a strong 2022-23 campaign, only to ultimately finish second as Pep Guardiola\u2019s side scooped a third straight title in a storming end to the season.<\/p>\n
Arsenal\u2019s inability to take a point off them was key in them finishing second and Sunday saw them finally beat City in the league for the first time since 2015, building on their Community Shield shoot-out triumph against the treble winners.<\/p>\n
The half-time introduction of Martinelli after three weeks out with a hamstring injury proved inspired, adding extra impetus to the attack before eventually hitting a late winner that deflected in off Nathan Ake to seal a 1-0 victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know how hard it is to play against them,\u201d the Brazil international said. \u201cIt was a great performance from the team and a great win.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course (it gives us more belief we can win this season\u2019s title). We are Arsenal and we are always believing about the title.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo win against a big side like them is great and we just need to carry on.<\/p>\n
\u201cA special day for me. I tried my best, really hard, to be back with the team and it was a great moment for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always good to win against the big teams and we did it today. I\u2019m so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arsenal remain unbeaten eight league matches into the season and are level in terms of points and goal difference with leaders Tottenham, with their bitter rivals only ahead on goals scored.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you play for Arsenal you have to always believe and this is what we do,\u201d Martinelli said as they look to bring the Premier League title back to north London for the first time since 2004.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe play for Arsenal and we always believe we can win the titles.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s another year. We\u2019re going to try to improve things and try to do better than last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I think (there is more depth). We have a great team and it\u2019s important to have a lot of options.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sunday\u2019s victory win was made all the more impressive by the fact Arsenal\u2019s star man Bukayo Saka was missing, with a muscle injury ending his run of 87 successive Premier League appearances.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know our potential,\u201d Martinelli said. \u201cWe know his potential and how important he is for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday we did our best, tried to win the game for our fans, for us and for B as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arsenal return to action at Chelsea after the international break, while wounded City look to get their title defence back on track at home to Brighton.<\/p>\n
Guardiola\u2019s men have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions, including back-to-back Premier League matches for the first time since December 2018.<\/p>\n
City midfielder Bernardo Silva said: \u201cIt\u2019s a setback but it\u2019s still the beginning. We\u2019re far away from the end of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was not the result we wanted. Against a tough opponent it is never easy to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe felt the game was tough for both teams. Both are tough and organised and tense. We had a few chances in the beginning.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the end it was a deflection. In my opinion we gave them too much time to think at that moment. We have to be more intense in the pressing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is what it is. It\u2019s part of football and we move onto the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n
City struggled to lay a glove on an Arsenal side that they had beaten in 12 consecutive Premier League meetings before Sunday.<\/p>\n
Guardiola\u2019s men mustered a mere four shots at the Emirates Stadium, but Silva is not getting carried away with the loss or the recent drop off.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of these results we were not expecting and we didn\u2019t want them to happen,\u201d he told club media.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast season we won the treble but there was a point that nothing was going our way.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow you overcome these moments is what defines the team and we will keep fighting for all the games. We\u2019re going for it again.\u201d<\/p>\n