Unai Emery can't stop same Arsenal anguish and other talking points as Man City shine

PLUS CA CHANGE

A new dawn, but the same frustrations.

This was the script as a man other than Arsene Wenger took charge of Arsenal in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.

Patience has been a necessity as a Gooner since the glory days of the early 2000s steadily ebbed away during the past decade. Even more will be required after this agonising opening defeat, admittedly against rampant Premier League champions.

Emery went with the 4-2-3-1 formation that his iconic predecessor returned to in the final months of the season. They matched their opponents in shape, but little else throughout the nervous 90 minutes that followed.

The Spaniard’s freshly installed press was erratic and disjointed.

Attempts to play out from the back were slapstick. An egregious example in the opening period saw ailing goalkeeper Petr Cech  – watched on by German addition Bernd Leno – concede a corner from a woeful pass.

The decision to throw in 19-year-old summer signing Matteo Guendouzi from the start against the competition’s strongest side was straight from the Wenger playbook. By half-time, he had the second-worst pass completion rate (62.5 per cent) and lost the ball through bad control more than any team-mate (6).

Only an excellent stop from Cech saved him embarrassment when he misjudged the ball after the break, sending striker Sergio Aguero clean through.

New centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos was unauthoritative, plus Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil registered no shots.

In Wenger’s mournful final campaign, Arsenal lost six times and won just once in the ‘top-six mini league’.

That is now seven from 11, with Chelsea to come next weekend. Plus ca change.

RAHEEM IS LET OFF THE LEASH

An impressive goal and a pointed celebration.

Sterling’s 14^th-minute opener witnessed him skip past right-back Hector Bellerin’s non-existent challenge, evaded rookie Guendouzi’s tackle and drill a low shot into the bottom corner that you’d charitably say Cech was unsighted for.

That’s now 19 goals in his last 34 Premier League matches.

The usual opprobrium from the stands had greeted his every previous touch. Its volume had been increased by a goalless World Cup 2018 campaign in which his selfless role in Gareth Southgate’s 3-5-2 formation went unappreciated – largely by those with the usual agendas when it comes to the self professed #TheHatedOne .

Even if Southgate’s motives were for the betterment of a side that surprisingly made the semi-finals, something special was lost along the way.

Sterling will not shine if asked to receive the ball centrally, often with his back to goal.

Guardiola’s great insight is to deploy the 23-year-old out wide, but insist on devastating sprints inside. The statistics show that goals follow.

THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT

Victory at a canter became a familiar feeling for City in Guardiola’s historic second season.

An irrepressible side broke the wins, points and goals records – among others – on their way to the crown.

Worryingly for the opposition, signs were plentiful at Emirates Stadium – wrought silent by the visitors’ collective brilliance as the enthusiasm about Emery swiftly dissipated – that improvements have been made.

City enjoyed 58-per-cent possession, had eight more attempts and won seven more corners.

Left-back Benjamin Mendy was available to make just seven appearances after his July 2017 arrival because of serious knee injury. Back in full flight after a support role for victors France at World Cup 2018, he produced two assists.

Portugal playmaker Bernardo Silva is carrying greater authority a year on from his move – also from Monaco. His swept finish on 64 minutes from Mendy’s set-up made it five strikes in his last seven Premier League starts.

Arsenal were rendered docile by a starting XI that didn’t feature Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Leroy Sane or Nicolas Otamendi.

Sobering thoughts for the likes of resurgent Liverpool, so impressive hours earlier during their 4-0 triumph against West Ham United.

It is statistically improbable that City will repeat last season’s historic superiority. But the odds will have decreased after this.