Very few saw this coming
Unai Emery has made two shock selections for his first Premier League game as Arsenal manager, as 19-year-old Mattéo Guendouzi starts in midfield alongside Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey. New signing Lucas Torreira only makes the bench for the Gunners’ first game of the season.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles also starts at left-back in the absence of Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac, despite reports that Danny Welbeck could play there.
Alexandre Lacazette also starts from the bench, with Mesut Özil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan supporting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a front three.
Pep Guardiola has also left out Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sané from his starting XI today, with Raheem Sterling and new signing Riyad Mahrez starting in the wide positions, and Ilkay Gundogan joining Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva in midfield.
📋 Here's our team news…
🔴 This is @UnaiEmery_'s first @PremierLeague teamsheet#ARSMCI pic.twitter.com/BwBGaf7Swk
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2018
Your Champions’ line-up! 🙌
City XI | Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy, Fernandinho (C), Gündogan, Bernardo, Mahrez, Sterling, Agüero
Subs | Bravo, Kompany, De Bruyne, Sané, Otamendi, Jesus, Foden
Presented by @haysworldwide. #afcvcity #mancity pic.twitter.com/tIW9LfRpM8
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 12, 2018
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