Premier League champions, Manchester City cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over Arsenal in their opening match of the 2018/19 campaign at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
City started like a house on fire with Raheem Sterling breaking through on goal in the ninth minute, but he was superbly denied in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Five minutes later Sterling did find the back of the net after beating to defenders before firing the ball into the top corner of the box from the edge of the box, 1-0.
Arsenal nearly equalised in the 21st minute when Hector Bellerin received a precise pass inside the box, but City keeper Ederson was quickly off his line and smothered the attacker.
The Gunners suffered a bit of a set-back just after the half hour mark when Ainsley Maitland-Niles had to leave the field injured and was replaced by Stephan Lichtsteiner.
In the 42nd minute Riyad Mahrez almost scored his first goal for City, but his 20-yard effort shaved the wrong side of the post.
The half ended with City leading 1-0.
Ten minutes into the second half substitute Alexandre Lacazette almost levelled matters for Arsenal when he broke into the box, but his 16-yard shot struck the side-netting.
In the 64th minute City doubled their lead when Benjamin Mendy played Bernardo Silva into space just inside the box and he duly provided a clinical finish into the corner of the net, 2-0.
It was almost three for City in the 85th minute when Mendy let fly from long range, but Cech made a great save to deny him.
Arsenal threw players forward in the dying minutes of the match as they tried to find some consolation, but City held on for a comfortable win.
Here's how they lined up.
Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Sokratis, Maitland-Niles (Lichtsteiner 35’), Mustafi, Guendouzi, Xhaka (Torreira 70’), Mkhitaryan, Ramsey (Lacazette 54’), Ozil, Aubameyang.
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy, Fernandinho, Gündogan, Bernardo, Mahrez (De Bruyne 60’), Sterling (Sane 87’), Agüero (Jesus 79’).
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