ARSENAL 0, MANCHESTER CITY 2
Goals by Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva ensured that Manchester City got their title defence off to a winning start at the Emirates against Arsenal.
New Arsenal boss Unai Emery, their first new boss for 22 years, had never beaten Pep Guardiola in 10 previous meetings and Arsenal were hit by a first half injury to Ainsley Maitland-Niles but were already 1-0 down to a Sterling strike and Silva doubled that in the second half as the Gunners looked weak down their flanks.
Guardiola made three changes from the comfortable win in the Community Shield last weekend. Ederson, Raheem Sterling, and Ilkay Gundogan comes into the side with Claudio Bravo, Phil Foden, and Leroy Sane dropping to the bench.
Riyad Mahrez made his full debut for City while Benjamin Mendy was making his first Premier League start for City since September 23 last year in an injury hit season and City started the way they intended to continue.
It might have been a new look Arsenal but there were some similar failings from the Arsene Wenger years despite the strong fan support.
Petr Cech was tested by Raheem Sterling early on from close range as City started where they left off, targeting makeshift full back Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Sterling didn’t have to wait long for his first goal of the season after a barren World Cup after taking on the ball from Mendy.
The tricky winger fired in a solid strike from the edge of the area beating Cech with just 14 minutes gone after going past Hector Bellerin and Guendouzi before beating the veteran keeper who may have been unsighted by Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
Sokratis was almost responsible for an own goal minutes later after some shaky defending which had the Emirates holding its collective breath.
Bellerin was denied by Ederson after the Gunners full back had beaten Mendy before City countered and Sergio Aguero hit the side netting.
Aguero was brought down by Sokratis in the D – to give City a dangerous set piece from which Cech saved Mahrez’s free kick and then tipped away Aymeric Laporte’s follow-up to deny City a second.
Mahrez also sent a left footed shot wide as City were wasteful when presented good chances to extend their lead.
Arsenal were hit by a first half injury to Maitland-Niles, which meant veteran Stephen Lichtsteiner made an unexpected debut for the Gunners.
There was very little on for Arsenal until a wayward shot by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang just before the break.
Manchester City finish off Arsenal with stunning Bernardo Silva strike
The Gunners were coming back into the game in the second half with Alexandre Lacazette shooting just wide after coming on.
By this time Aguero was on a mission to get on the score sheet – pouncing on a mistake by Guendouzi and galloping down the field, but failing to spot a free De Bruyne waiting for the square ball – instead seeing his shot saved by Cech.
No matter though, as Bernardo Silva lashed in City’s second goal from 12 yards out into the top corner after 64 minutes shortly afterwards following a cut back by Mendy – it the was Portuguese midfielder’s fifth goal in his last seven Premier League starts for City.
The Gunners had the ball in the back of the net but Aubameyang was flagged offside after a ball over the top by substitute Lucas Torreira.
Things might have looked bleak for the Gunners but most of them refused to lie down, however they won’t have liked the sight of Gabriel Jesus coming on to replace Aguero for the last few minutes.
A rare mistake by Ederson allowed Ozil a chance to create something but the Brazilian rescued his own error by rushing out to prevent the German from creating a chance as Aubameyang was too casual with his lay off for him.
City had been wasteful and Mendy should have put the finishing touches to the win but Cech was there to collect a tam effort while Arsenal had another goal ruled out for an Ozil offside while the German put Mkhitaryan through for a shot which was blocked.
Cech almost handed a tap-in to Jesus in the dying minutes while De Bruyne took a pot shot late on but the game ended with a satisfactory three points for City on the road.
MATCH STATS – Arsenal 0, Man City 2
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Papastathopoulos, Mustafi, Maitland-Niles (Lichtsteiner 35), Guendouzi, Xhaka (Torreira 70), Mkhitaryan, Ramsey (Lacazette 54), Ozil, Aubameyang
Arsenal Subs not used: Leno, Elneny, Holding, Iwobi
Booked: Sokratis 27, Xhaka 53
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Mahrez (De Bruyne 60), Aguero (Jesus 79), Sterling (Sane 87)
Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Kompany, Otamendi, Foden
Booked: Sterling 4, De Bruyne 73
Goals: Sterling 14, Bernardo Silva 64