Manchester City eased past Arsenal following the resumption of the Premier League season.
After 100 days since the last league match, football returned to the TV screens with an empty stadium, but it was a powerful statement made by players, officials and coaches ahead of kick off which will be the main talking point.
Players took the knee ahead of kick-off, as well as holding a minute’s remembrance for those who have lost their battle with the Coronavirus pandemic. All the players also wore ‘Black Lives Matter’ on their kit as the Premier League supports the global campaign for equality.
Goals from Raheem Sterling, a Kevin De Bruyne penalty and Phil Foden ensured City began the restarted season with a comfortable win.
Arsenal, who were unbeaten in 2020, continue their win-less record away from home against their ‘Big Six’ rivals. It’s now 26 matches since they last won an away fixture, at Manchester City back in 2015.
Sterling opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, scoring from close range following Kevin De Bruyne’s through pass.
David Luiz failed to intercept the through ball and Sterling tucked home from six yards for his first league goal of 2020.
Luiz’ evening got even worse, when he was shown a straight red shortly after half time for pulling down Riyad Mahrez in the box.
De Bruyne stepped up and coolly slotted the ball into the corner and take the game beyond Arsenal.
The Gunner’s were toothless in attack and succumbed to a third City strike, when substitutes Sergio Aguero and Phil Foden combined, albeit via the post, to put the game beyond doubt.
In a free flowing opening 20 minutes in which Arsenal started brightly, showing good energy and a high press, and looked better prepared than a rusty Manchester City side.
However, they failed to create any cutting edge chances, and the hosts soon gained momentum and returned to their familiar passing style.
The only real chance in the opening exchanges came from De Bruyne’s free kick on the edge of the Arsenal penalty box, but his strike was comfortably tipped over by the Gunner’s keeper Bernd Leno.
Sterling tested Leno again in the 34th minute with a bending effort from the left hand side of the penalty box, before the German keeper made smart saves from David Silva and Mahrez respectively.
Earlier in the day, the Premier League returned in controversial fashion, as Sheffield United were denied a win at Aston Villa, in a game which finished 0-0. United had been denied by an error as hawk-eye failed to spot the ball had crossed the line.
This weekend sees the first full round of fixtures after more than three months without competitive football in England.
Nicholls' Sport Blog 