Arsenal lost their opening Premier League game 2-0 against reigning champions Manchester City, with goals in either half from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva. The result was probably to be expected, but what can we learn from the way they played and the manner of their defeat?
1. Unai Emery needs time to implement his plans
When Pep Guardiola first joined Manchester City, it took him a full season to get them playing the way he wanted. Likewise, Emery will need time to get his ideas across, and he should be given this, by players and fans alike.
Unai Emery has come in with a clear philosophy, much in the same way Arsene Wenger did when he started at Arsenal in 1996. Wenger was successful pretty quickly, winning the league in his first full season, but on yesterday’s evidence, it’ll take a miracle for Emery to replicate his predecessor.
Playing out from the back at all costs proved troublesome for the Arsenal players, with a number of stray passes putting them in danger, but the manager must have commanded this of his squad because they persisted with it long after it had been calamitous.
2. Petr Cech must be dropped
Playing out from the back is something that most of the Arsenal squad should be expected to understand, given time. But Petr Cech is an old dog, and as such, he will struggle to learn these new tricks. The Man City game showcased some fine saves for the Czech goalkeeper, but also saw him struggling hopelessly to pass out from the back.
The zenith of his performance came when he attempted to play a pass to one of his defenders, and very nearly passed it into his own net, for what would have been one of the most spectacular own goals ever scored.
Bernd Leno was bought to replace the ageing stopper, and on this evidence, he should be brought into the starting eleven as soon as possible.
3. Guendouzi is here to stay
Matteo Guendouzi was bought from Lorient for the paltry sum of £8 million, absolute peanuts in today’s money, and had only ever played in the French second division. But based on his assured performance in central midfield, these peanuts were very much worth it.
Confident on the ball, always asking for it, and driving forward when in possession, the youngster showed potential that he could become a pivotal player for Arsenal as the season goes on. And he has an excellent head of hair too.
4. Ramsey will get forward, a lot
Aaron Ramsey was taken off on 53 minutes, perhaps to nurse the calf strain that kept him out of Arsenal’s final pre-season game. But when he was on the pitch he was given license to get forward as much as possible, and if this continues he could get among the goals quite often this season.
5. Lichtsteiner will do exactly what he was bought for
With regular left-backs Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal injured, it was left to youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles to deputise. But when he suffered an injury 35 minutes into the game, new signing Stephan Lichtsteiner, a right back by trade, had to come on in his place.
He was bought to give Hector Bellerin a bit of competition on the right side of defence and maybe play the odd game in the Europa League and Carabao Cup. At 34, he isn’t supposed to set the world alight, but instead provide solid cover and a workmanlike attitude. Largely keeping Riyad Mahrez quiet he did precisely what it says on the tin.
He hopefully won’t have to play on the left many more times, but he showed enough to vindicate his signing as a backup right back.