12/08/2018 - Manchester City - Premier League - First Team - H

Thanks for joining us - stay close to Arsenal.com for all the post-match reaction including Unai Emery's post-match press conference.

It doesn't get any easier, with Chelsea up next Saturday at Stamford Bridge, but we have to learn the lessons from today and step up our performance against our London rivals

Half a chance for Laca as Micki pulls the ball back to him from the byeline, but it's just behind the France striker and he puts it over the bar

Stay online after the match for Arsenal Nation Live as we look into what went wrong, where we need to improve and what positives we can take from this match

Goal... no offside. Torreira lifted the ball over the top for Aubameyang, who beat Ederson - but the flag was up

It's time for Torriera, as our new signing gets a big reception from the Emirates crowd as he makes his way on for his Premier League debut

We had a let-off seconds earlier, but this time there was no mistake as the ball drops kindly for Silva in the area and he buries it high into the roof of the net

What a save Petr! Guendouzi misreads the flight of a long punt forward and it lets Aguero in on goal but Cech spreads himself and makes a vital stop

So close to an instant impact! Micki plays the play to the French striker on the edge of the area, he takes a touch before half volleying it just wide.

That's really got the crowd going inside the Emirates

Here comes Laca... our French striker is getting ready to make his introduction from the bench

Close for City again as the ball falls nicely for Aguero on the edge of the area and he lets rip - but it flies over the bar

We're back underway here at the Emirates - come on boys 👊

Close! We break upfield and Aubameyang arrows a show narrowly wide from distance

As first halves go, there's certainly room for improvement. We've had flashes where we have looked good going forward, but City remain a big threat

Heart in mouth time again as Mahrez collects the bvall on the right, cuts inside and bends the ball past Cech... but beyond the far post. 

That's a real shame for Ainsley as the injury he picked up in a challenge with Walker means he can't continue, with Stephan Lichtsteiner on for his Premier League debut

After a long stoppage after Maitland-Niles went down, we restart positively with Mkhitaryan nearly finding space in the box but he's bundled off it by Laporte. Better.

Well in Petr! Mahrez curls a low free kick around the wall and Cech gets down well to push it away, and on to his feet to deflect the follow up effort behind

Sokratis takes down Aguero right on the edge of the area, in a very worrying position for the free-kick...

That's better! Maitland-Niles plays the ball from left to right, Bellerin gets to the ball and nicks it past Mendy and hits a firm shot that Ederson palms away.

Our best moment of the game so far 👏

Well that makes life difficult. Sterling picked the ball up to the left of the area, beat two men to move back inside and then fired in beyond Cech to put City in front.

But there's still plenty of time left to play - come on boys!

City are moving through the gears and Cech has to be alert at his near post to turn away a fierce Sterling effort

It's City's turn to attack and Walker races on to the overlap down the right and fizzes in a cross that Cech saves and Maitland-Niles puts behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.

There's our first sight of goal as the ball drops to Ramsey just outside the area but he can't make a clean connection and Ederson comfortably holds his shot

We're underway - come on boys!

We're experiencing a few technical issues with Arsenal Nation Live, we'll be on air as soon as we can 🙏

STAT: We have received six red cards in Premier League opening weekend fixtures, more than any other side

STAT: This is the seventh consecutive season that we've kicked off a Premier League campaign at home, but they’ve only won two of the previous six (W2 D1 L3)

STAT: This will be the first time Arsenal and Man City have met on the opening day of the season since 1994/95, when we won 3-0 at Highbury under George Graham

Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustafi, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Ramsey, Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang.

Subs: Leno, Holding, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Torreira, Iwobi, Lacazette.

We'll have the team news shortly - and there will be huge interest around who Unai Emery picks.

Cech or Leno, will Torreira start, does he partner Aubameyang and Lacazette or does one of them drop to the bench.

We'll out very soon...

How are you feeling anyway, Gooners? Nervous, excited, intrigued?

Get involved in all the pre-match chat on Twitter by using the #ARSMCI hashtag