9′ GREAT CHANCE! Sterling forces Cech into making a superb stop at his near post to deny the winger an opening goal. It was a lovely move by the visitors as Aguero feeds Sterling deep inside the box, he then turns and fires his shot at goal.
8′ Arsenal have another tough game coming up next weekend as they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a difficult start to the new campaign.
6′ City get forward for the first time through Mahrez and Walker down the right, their pace down that wing could terrify defences this season! Walker whips a ball into the box but he gets too much on it and Arsenal begin to control the game once more.
4′ Sterling picks up an early yellow card, after a strong tackle on Guendouzi.
3′ Arsenal have the first chance at goal. Sokratis Papastathopoulos wins the ball in the middle of the park, heading the ball onto Ramsey who latches onto it before trying to place it into the back of the net, but Ederson comfortably gathers.
2′ Arsenal got us underway here and they are playing the ball nicely around the pitch, getting Bellerin forward down the right. However Mendy deals with the threat well and the visitors clear the danger.
1′ We’re underway!
The teams are out at the Emirates and kick-off is just moments away! Stay tuned for all of the match action.
Arsenal have two new signings in their starting XI, with Sokratis and Guendouzi making their debuts. Petr Cech starts ahead of Bernd Leno in goal and captains the team, with Torreira and Lichtsteiner on the bench. Mahrez is handed a place in the starting line-up, as De Bruyne and Sane are named as substitutes for City.
MAN CITY SUBS: Claudio Bravo, Vincent Kompany, Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane, Nicolas Otamendi, Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden.
MAN CITY (4-3-3): Ederson (GK); Kyle Walker, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Benjamin Mendy; Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho (C), Ilkay Gundogan; Riyad Mahrez, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling.
ARSENAL SUBS: Bernd Leno, Mohamed Elneny, Alexandre Lacazette, Lucas Torreira, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Rob Holding, Alex Iwobi
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech (GK & C); Hector Bellerin, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Shkodran Mustafi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles; Matteo Guendouzi, Granit Xhaka; Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Let’s take a look at the teams…
All eyes will be on Emery, as he prepares to fill the hole left by Arsene Wenger. The Gunners are once again without Champions League football next season but they did reach the semi-finals of the Europa League, but were knocked out by eventual winners Atletico Madrid.
Both teams have added quality recruits ahead of the 2018-19 season, with City’s major addition being Riyad Mahrez, who joined from Leicester City. Meanwhile Emery has also added to his squad, with Sokratis joining from Dortmund and Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria.
City cruised to the title last season, breaking nine records and equaling another in a season that saw the division’s first-ever 100-point haul. The question is if they can repeat this feat again and if can anyone get close to them. The Champions are fresh from beating Chelsea in the Community Shield last weekend, the perfect way to start their new campaign.
Manchester City begin their title defence against Unai Emery’s Arsenal – who are led into the new season by a new manager for the first time in 22 years. A tough start to the new season.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live match commentary of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates.
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R. Sterling
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