'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester City started the defence of their Premier League title in a thumping fashion on Sunday (August 12), clinching a 2-0 victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Unai Emery tasted defeat in his first official game as the Gunners' head coach, as the players struggled to ease into his set-up.
A strike a piece from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva saw Pep Guardiola's team start the league right where they left off last, showing that it would take an extraordinary effort from their opponents to dispel their crown this season.
"We have a lot of players with a lack of condition but we are more than two seasons together and know what to do. We made a good performance in general and day by day we will get better and better. Manchester City have given me a fantastic squad."
Pep Guardiola
While the Gunners can find consolation from the fact that they were outplayed by a better, more extensive, and well-gelled unit, there are certain things they could've done differently to clinch a better result.
"The first half we didn't play like we wanted. We spoke at half-time about taking more responsibility for the second half, to do a little more.We wanted to build with the ball and break their lines. I think in the second half we played more like we want."
Unai Emery
Listed below are three reasons for Arsenal's loss:
#3 Lack of product from Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the primary creators of the Arsenal attack, failed to turn up against City on Sunday. The duo seemed uncomfortable in Emery's new set-up, struggling to create chances from their wide positions.
Ozil, who has been under a gallon of pressure in the past few weeks, looked far from his best. He was responsible for a slate of misplaced passes, looked jittery in possession, and exhibited an uncharacteristic lack of assurance going forward.
Meanwhile, the impact of Mkhitaryan's efforts from the flanks was almost zilch. He made just one cross, lost five duels, and remained ineffective through the game.
This underwhelming display from the pair meant limited service for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Aaron Ramsey, who played as Arsenal's central attackers.
#2 Lucas Torreira benched, Ramsey's role undefined
The signing of Uruguayan international, Lucas Torreira, filled many Arsenal fans with optimism in the build-up to the new season. He looked like the kind of player who could improve the Gunners' defence and add a semblance of solidarity within their structure.
However, in a move that shocked many, Emery decided against starting Torreira on Sunday. Instead, youngster Matte Guendouzi was given a shot in the midfield in a big show of trust from the Arsenal boss.
Torreira was brought on in the second half and seemed to have an instant impact on the proceedings, but it was too little too late for the North London side.
Granit Xhaka and Ramsey were also a part of the set-up, and while the former had a forgettable day in the office, the latter couldn't make the most out of the attacking freedom that was bestowed upon him by the manager.
At times, the Welsh international played alongside Aubameyang in the attack. He looked primed for the new pressing game adopted by the hosts in the final third, but couldn't produce the final ball with efficiency.
#1 Inadequate time for the Laca-Auba partnership
Since Aubameyang swapped Borussia Dortmund for Arsenal in January 2018, his link-up with Alexandre Lacazette upfront lead to a number of goals and goal-scoring opportunities for the Gunners.
Emery, too, seemed to rely upon their partnership in Arsenal's pre-season fixtures, as the duo was started together in all games barring one. The pair had eight goals between them in four games.
However, the Gunners' boss decided to bench Lacazette against Man City in a decision that came as a surprise to many. Aubameyang seemed starved off service without the Frenchman on his side and cut a lonely figure in Arsenal's final third.
Lacazette's introduction to the mix infused life in the hosts' attack, and it seemed as if they might take a point off the encounter after all.
However, Silva's strike killed the game for good, and Arsenal's attacking duo did not get enough time to assert their authority on the proceedings thereafter.
