CITY SHOW THEY CAN DOG IT OUT
Sterling strikes and a first clean sheet as...
THE return of Sergio Aguero outweighed the loss of Kevin De Bruyne as Manchester City registered both their first home Premier League win and first clean sheet of the season.
This was determined rather than dazzling City, with Raheem Sterling showing the benefit of resting during the international break by scoring the only goal midway through the first half.
Aguero, who looked sharp given he had missed the last 17 matches following knee surgery, had a part to play in the winner, feeding Phil Foden, whose shot was parried by Bernd Leno into Sterling’s path.
The finish proved he is over any hamstring problem that caused him to miss England’s last cluster of games and Pep Guardiola had good reason to be relieved, with Aymeric Laporte, Gabriel Jesus, Benjamin Mendy out besides the influential De Bruyne.
Sterling, who has had to play as a false nine this season, reverted deeper, glad to have Aguero back. Just as importantly, City looked more soli d at t he back after shipping five goals to Leicester in their last outing at the Etihad. Kyle Walker slotted into the centre of defence where he helped lock the door on Arsenal danger man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has still not scored since signing a new contract last month.
‘It was so important for our heads given the problems we’ve had,’ said Guardiola, aware City started the evening already nine points behind leaders Everton.
‘Everyone has had their problems but we only had one or two weeks training before the season. The team was incredible, how they fought and played.’
For Arsenal, it was close but no cigar. They have still not won at a Big Six team in the league since beating City in 2015 and they were f oi l ed on t his occasion when Ederson saved from Bukayo Saka and Walker was not penalised for a high kick that caught Gabriel from a corner.
‘ We would like to go and win anywhere,’ said Mikel Arteta, whose side were happy to sit back as they had done in beating City in last season’s FA Cup semi- final, only going on the front foot in the final part of the game when strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah were sent on.
City-Arsenal fixtures take on a special meaning these days because of the relationship between Guardiola and Arteta, once master and apprentice at the Etihad.
They are already developing an interesting history as rivals. City beat the Gunners convincingly in the first game after lockdown, yet Arteta gained revenge with his tactical masterclass at Wembley.
Aguero was not available on that occasion and yesterday the return of their record goalscorer was big news for City. He looked ready from the opening minutes, getting to an early Riyad Mahrez cross, twisting a header wide.
Arsenal have started the season more steadily than City but the home side deserved the lead given to them by Sterling after 23 minutes following a fine move which involved Aguero.
The striker carried the ball from Mahrez’s pass deep into the Arsenal half and released Foden down the left. The City youngster cut inside and fired in at Leno whose block fell kindly to Sterling, who slotted in left-footed. It was his sixth goal in five Premier League games against Arsenal in the league and justified his withdrawal from international duty as a precaution over a tight hamstring.
Sterling and Bernardo Silva also stepped up to cover the lack of midfield creativity due to De Bruyne’s absence. Mahrez tested Leno and then saw Gabriel get in an excellent block as he attempted to snaffle the rebound. Foden found space in the penalty area but opted for a low rather than dinked finish and Leno spread himself to save.
Arsenal’s best outlet was youngster Saka, who was given his England debut against Wales by Gareth Southgate.
Some brilliant Arsenal football approaching half-time saw Saka and Aubameyang combine on the edge of the City box. The winger burst into the area and his shot towards the top corner deflected off Ederson’s chest and flew wide.
There was more urgency from the visitors after half - time. Aubameyang, playing centrally, closed down Ederson so quickly the goalkeeper’s clearance cannoned off the Arsenal captain for a City throw near the byline. The cries of encouragement from Arsenal’s assorted coaches and analysts dotted around the stadium grew louder in a mixture of English and Spanish.
Aguero was withdrawn midway through the second half having put in a good shift, with Ilkay Gundogan the replacement.
Out of habit, Aguero went to raise his hands to applaud the fans when hi s number came up, before realising the stadium was empty. Grinning, he still applauded the handful of staff dotted about the stadium who were showing their appreciation.
Cancelo got a caution for scraping his studs down the back of Kieran Tierney’s Achilles tendon and Ruben Dias also saw yellow for stopping Saka in full flight.
Arteta brought on strikers Lacazette and Nketiah to try and take advantage any jitters City had, jitters that were nearly soothed when Luiz almost put behind his own goal.
But it was the Gunners pressing for an equaliser in injury-time. The fact that City with stood the pressure and came away with a clean sheet and three points will delight Guardiola as much as some of the great tiki-taka stuff they are more used to.