Pep’s message to rivals as City run riot WITHOUT star names

Arsenal 0 Man City 2

PEP GUARDIOLA insisted his side sent out a title message as they cruised past Arsenal with many of their big-hitters on the bench.

Red-hot Raheem Sterling hit his 50th Premier League goal before helping to set up Bernardo Silva for City’s second.

But Guardiola felt comfortable enough

FROM BACK PAGE to leave playmaker Kevin De Bruyne (below), winger Leroy Sane and strike star Gabriel Jesus out of the starting line-up, along with captain Vincent Kompany.

Guardiola said: “It’s a good message, especially for ourselves.

“Coming here for the first game when we were the team and club with the most players at the World Cup – that is a good sign for us.”

No side has managed a successful defence of the Premier League title since Manchester United in 2009.

Guardiola believes winning without so many of his key men will give his squad the belief to buck the trend. He added: “It’s the only way to be consistent – the players have to know that team-mates are there waiting to play.” Arsenal, playing their first competitive game without Arsene Wenger since 1996, were well beaten. Boss Unai Emery admitted the defeat proved how far behind the champions the Gunners had fallen. “Yes, but we know,” he said. “Today is the first step on that process. “Manchester City have been working for years with Guardiola. We are just starting.”