Arsenal Vs Manchester City: 5 things we learned – Dejected resignation

4. Full backs falter

City exploited Arsenal in wide areas. It may have been the dual-axis of David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne that attracted much of the interest and pre-match build-up, and rightly so, but it was Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva that caused the real damage on the night.

Sane was especially sharp. Hector Bellerin could not stay with the lightning winger, often backing off from him, unwilling to commit himself to challenges with the fear of getting beat, and it was Sane’s slaloming dribbling, precise distribution, and intelligent decision-making that set up both of City’s first two goals.

On the opposite flank, Sead Kolasinac had a torrid time dealing with Silva. The slippery, agile winger was able to slide his way past the bundling Bosnian on several occasions, exploiting his sharper movement, his greater balance, and quicker turning. His passing outmanoeuvred him time and time again, and Kolasinac struggled to keep tabs on him as he drifted inside when the ball was on the opposite wing. Neither Bellerin or Kolasinac covered themselves in glory. But then, I guess, no one really did.