NEW ARSENAL? DON’T MAKE ME LAUGH!
CECH
Poor distribution a huge problem but redeemed by denying Aguero BELLERIN
Strong and positive going forward, but suspect defensively
SOKRATIS Booked
Experienced campaigner but lack of pace won’t solve Arsenal frailties MUSTAFI
Pulled all over the place by City’s movement and pace. Struggled MAITLAND-NILES
Got injured after winning race with Walker. Great shame, has promise GUENDOUZI
Ruthlessly exposed. A big prospect but this was way beyond him XHAKA Booked
Gave ball away and was sloppy. Can Emery uncover the player? MKHITARYAN
He went close but could not find a finish or the killer pass
RAMSEY
Subbed early after a misplaced pass. Disappointing display
OZIL
Given No.10 shirt, gave nothing extra. Went missing again. Poor AUBAMEYANG
Got little service despite working hard. Better with Lacazette on SUBS:
Lichtsteiner (Maitland-niles 35) Lacazette (Ramsey 54)
Torreira (Xhaka 77) MOTM Fairly quiet afternoon, one Bellerin shot but otherwise easy day WALKER
Good defensively and his electric pace took side forward. Good STONES
His fine World Cup form has put him in City’s line-up. Composed LAPORTE
Lucky not to get booked early on. Denied by Cech. Good defensively MENDY
Provided assist and undoubtedly important for City this season BERNARDO SILVA
Terrific finish for second. Quiet at times but unforgettable goal FERNANDINHO
Gave what Arsenal lacked: midfield discipline and defence protection GUNDOGAN
City’s masked midfield worker. Makes City tick, keeps ball flowing MAHREZ
Given City a new dimension. Good skill, dribbling. Caused problems STERLING Booked
Scored first, untouchable for 30 minutes and played role in second AGUERO
Movement good, caused problems but missed a big chance
SUBS:
De Bruyne (Mahrez 60)
Gabriel Jesus (Aguero 79)
Sane (Sterling 87) NEW era and yet a familiar outcome.
Unai Emery’s reign started like the old one ended with Arsenal a million miles behind the Premier League elite as champions Manchester City were on a totally different level.
But City’s brilliance also put the size of the task facing Emery in stark contrast because all the familiar problems remain after a horrible and ruthless baptism for Arsenal’s new manager.
They were awful in defence, the midfield was a shambles and the problem is that you can only do so much with largely the same group of players who were not good enough last season.
Make no mistake, there is no tougher start than against City but the likes of Shkodran Mustafi and Granit Xhaka were just as bad as they were under Arsene Wenger.
Petr Cech, at 36, was asked to transform himself into a sweeper-keeper and play out from the back.
French youngster Matteo Guendouzi was thrown in at the deep end, Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan went missing and Aaron Ramsey (right) struggled to pull the strings.
Maybe there were some Sterling 14, Silva 64 teething problems but there was still no excuse for the basic defensive mistakes which allowed Raheem Sterling to open the scoring and City could have won more comfortably.
It promises to be a long season for Emery (right) and, without more investment and squad improvement in the summer, it begs the question: What exactly has changed?
They have not spent enough, they left new German keeper Bernd Leno on the bench and Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira was only a second-half substitute. It was rather baffling.
Arsenal can forget the title, they look as if they might need a miracle to reach the top four and even the fans’ early optimism and enthusiasm was replaced by groans by fulltime.
City are a very difficult barometer to be judged against but they do offer the standard which others have to match and, apart from Liverpool, it looks like Pep Guardiola could have it largely his own way again. Sterling was unplayable for the first 30 minutes, John Stones looks energised by his impressive World Cup and Riyad Mahrez gave them a new dimension.
In Benjamin
Mendy, who missed so much of last season through injury, they also have a player who gives them yet another angle, this time from left-back. Arsenal had no answer to City’s pace and movement, Cech’s saves
more than made up for his poor passing out from the back but this was the sort of comprehensive win which sends out a message to the rest. City bossed it from the start, Sterling’s pace frightened Arsenal and the England winger took just 14 minutes to open the scoring. He cut in from the left, dribbled across the face of the box, leaving Hector Bellerin and Guendouzi in his wake and fired a low shot which flew into the net. In fairness to Cech, Greek centrehalf Sokratis was standing right in the keeper’s line of vision. Xhaka’s clumsiness let in Sergio Aguero but Sokratis upended the City striker while Cech defied first Mahrez and then Aymeric Laporte with smart saves after the free-kick.
Arsenal did at least show spirit in the second half as substitute Alexandre Lacazette missed a big chance while Guendouzi horribly missed a clearance and let in Aguero who was defied by Cech.
But City killed off the game as a contest after 64 minutes after Sterling and Mendy combined to set up Bernardo Silva who smashed home into the net.
City fans ended up singing: “One Arsene Wenger” as they rubbed salt in the wounds of the Arsenal fans.
The home supporters quickly replied with: “Arsene Wenger – he’s won more than you.”
It felt a bit ironic that the fans who gave Wenger so much stick were suddenly defending him.
But it might be a long time before they enjoy the success of the early Wenger days again.
For City, it feels as if another remarkable, unforgettable campaign is within their grasp.
They won the title last season at a canter. And now they look even better.