Unai Emery endures tough start at Arsenal as Manchester City highlight defensive concerns

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James Olley12 August 2018

New Arsenal head coach Unai Emery began life at the Emirates Stadium with defeat as Manchester City started their Premier League title defence with a well-deserved victory.

Emery has promised to take Arsenal in a "new way" after replacing Arsene Wenger in May and there were some signs of it here, although the reigning champions proved to be too strong for the Gunners on their way to a 2-0 win.

This was Pep Guardiola's 11th meeting with Emery and he remains unbeaten against his fellow Spaniard as Raheem Sterling's 50th Premier League goal got the ball rolling before Bernardo Silva struck in the second half.

James Olley assesses the key talking points at the Emirates...

Emery given tough introduction to Premier League

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This was always going to be a tall order given the seismic changes at Arsenal in summer, a 37-point gap between the two teams and Manchester City’s position of strength under Pep Guardiola.

Emery will have been encouraged by aspects of this performance – notably the attempt at pressing high up the pitch, which was particularly effective in the first ten minutes – but the manner of the two goals conceded will be concerning given Emery has focused on improving the Gunners’ defending in pre-season.

The mood at Emirates Stadium was, however, refreshed by Arsene Wenger’s departure and despite being palpably second-best throughout, the home fans stayed behind their team, unlike in previous opening day defeats.

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There were signs of change in Arsenal attempting to play out from the back and improve their intensity without the ball but here was an early reminder of the work they have ahead.

Cech endures a mixed bag

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Petr Cech’s told Standard Sport earlier this month that he had been given no assurances over his starting place after Bernd Leno’s arrival from Bayer Leverkusen so it will have come as a boost to the 36-year-old that he was given the nod here.

However, what followed was a nervy showing which leaves him more vulnerable than before.

Cech did make a fine double save from Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte but his individual display will be remembered for the moment he almost scored the most ludicrous of own goals, collecting Matteo Guendouzi’s back-pass by one post only to turn the ball alarmingly close to the other for an unnecessary corner.

Cech is the man in possession – a point reinforced by a fine second half save as Sergio Aguero raced clear - but Arsenal surely didn’t spend £19.2million on a goalkeeper to sit on the bench.

City see the best of Sterling once more

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The difference between Raheem Sterling’s performances for England and City is not as marked as some suggest but there is now doubt he remains a more effective player at club level.

Arsenal’s centre-backs lacked pace, only adding to the threat Sterling posed as his movement and dynamism caused them all manner of problems.

The 23-year-old scored the first goal after 14 minutes with a fine strike, working an opening as he moved from left to right across Arsenal’s penalty area before firing low past Cech.

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Sterling may not have scored in 1000 days for England but for City he is one of the most impressive performers in a team that underlined here why they are favourites to retain the League title.

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