Arsenal vs Manchester City: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis, Premier League 2018/19

#4 City regain momentum despite Lacazette's introduction

Aaron Ramsey was substituted in the 54th minute

Minutes into the second half, Emery decided to take off Aaron Ramsey and bring on Alexandre Lacazette. The Welsh midfielder had been a doubt for the game and with the Gunners down 1-0, Emery decided to test the partnership of Lacazette and Aubameyang that had worked in many games last season.

The response was almost immediate. The French striker was seen harrying City's defenders and winning the ball back, he was quick to release Aubameyang, and he even managed to get a shot off on an Arsenal counter that drifted wide - all in the first couple of minutes of his introduction.

That was when Pep Guardiola decided to switch things up and introduced Kevin De Bruyne for Riyad Mahrez - just when the Algerian was about to take a corner. The time it took for his new record signing to come off and the Belgian to come on effectively ruined Arsenal's momentum.

Bernardo Silva doubled City's lead in the second half

And, sure enough, City were back on the front foot. Aguero's effort when he was one-on-one with Cech was saved but not before Benjamin Mendy grabbed his second assist - a cut-back for Bernardo Silva to fire into the top corner. Unchallenged in the box.

5 - Bernardo Silva has scored five goals in his last seven Premier League starts for Manchester City after failing to score in his first nine. Smack.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 12, 2018

With the wide forwards providing width, Sterling was able to allow Mendy to overlap and then cut back into the box. This was what did the Arsenal defence in as Silva crept into position to take advantage.