There are not many teams that dare to fight against this Manchester City team, and even if they do, the end will be very miserable.

Arsène Wenger had already set the tone for an attacking battle against a strong host at the Etihad Stadium, so he fielded a surprise starting line-up.

Goalkeeper: No. 33 Petr Cech

Defenders: Héctor Bellerin 24, Laurent Koscielny (c) 6, Nacho Monreal 18, Sejad Kolasinac 31

Back: No. 28 Tan Xibi

Midfielders: No. 8 Aaron Ramsey, 10 Jack Wilshere

Wingers: Theo Walcott 14, Alex Iwobi 17

Forward: No.9 Alexandre Lacazette

Subs: 54 Matt Messi, 2 Mathieu Debich, 34 Francis Coquelin, 29 Granit Xhaka, 11 Mesut Ozil, 7 Alex Sanchez, 12 Oliver Giroud

Why did Mesut Ozil and Sanchez, who had a week off, have two thighs on the bench?

Why did Monreal and Koscielny partner at centre-back?

Why did Walcott make his first league appearance this season? And it's in such an important game.

Why......

This is Arsenal's youngest average starting line-up in the league this season, at 24.2 years old, almost three years less than Manchester City's 27.1 years old.

Both Arsenal fans and expert journalists are puzzled by Arsenal's starting list, and they don't know who to ask with question marks in their heads, and watching the analysis of experts in the Sky Sports live studio, it turns out that Alain Pardu and Thierry Henry are tearing and betting.

Thankfully, Premier League ace commentator Martin Taylor quickly pulled the situation back from almost off topic.

"Manchester City's starting lineup is not surprising, it is still these people, which shows that Manchester City's starting lineup in the league is relatively stable. Somewhat surprisingly, Arsenal have continued to use a back four and three strikers this time after changing their formation to 433 last week. From a positional point of view, Arsenal and Manchester City have a very similar formation, because they both have a full-time defensive single midfielder. Manchester City is Fernandinho and Arsenal is Wall. ”

"I'm sure many people are surprised why Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez didn't start, and even Xhaka, who has been starting in the league before, is on the bench. There is also Monreal playing at centre-back, and there is no centre-back substitute on the Arsenal bench, these doubts, I try to decipher. ”

It is understood that although the main central defender Mustafi is recovering well from his injury, he may have to wait until the end of the international break to reach the level of playing. Mertesacker and Holding are both injured, but even if they weren't, I don't think Wenger would have sent these two guys, for the simple reason that City don't have a high striker, and the front court is full of small and fast players, and Mertesacker, who is tall, slow to turn around, and has reduced athleticism, is not suitable for playing. Holding is too young and the defense is rather frizzy. Monreal has been playing as a left-sided centre-back in a back three system, and his physical characteristics are well suited to the defensive mobility of Manchester City's strikers. In a back four, in Mustafi's injury, he plays at left centre-back and Kolasinac can play at left-back. ”

'As for Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez not starting, it may be for tactical reasons, after all, I am not the manager of Arsenal and it is difficult to know what Arsène is thinking. When the game starts, maybe you'll find out why. ”

……

When Tan Xibi followed the team out of the passage and into the stadium, a burst of boos sounded, and the deafening boos were mixed with all kinds of abuse.

"Wall, you scum!" "Yellow haired boy, don't cry your nose if you lose!" ”……

"Wall, it's all this mouth." Bellerin said helplessly to Tan Xibi, who was walking in front.

"Damn, I'm telling them to shut up!" Tan Xibi said angrily.

Bellerin and Iwobi in front of Tan Xibi were so frightened that he grabbed him: "Don't mess around, what do you want to do?" ”

"Shut them up!"

"How do you shut them up?"

"That's it." Tan Xibi put his index finger in front of his mouth, Bellerin and Iwobi had black foreheads, uncle, you don't know that this will provoke conflicts, and before the game, the referee will send you out of the game!

The first player in Premier League history to be sent off before kick-off for provoking a fan is drunk to think about.

"I'm afraid of Mao, I'm joking. I really don't understand the rules. Seeing their shocked faces, Tan Xibi laughed.

Bellerin: "......"

Iwobi: "......"

After the players from both sides entered the field, they lined up in a line and did not shake hands immediately, because there was still a small episode.

It turned out that Manchester City's leading striker Sergio Aguero became Manchester City's all-time top scorer with 178 goals, so the team held a brief award ceremony for him before the game to present him with the team's top scorer trophy.

At the end of the session, the two sides shook hands, and then gathered together in the center circle arc of their respective halves for a one-minute silence ceremony.

After the end, at the whistle of the referee on duty, Michael Oliver, the focus of Manchester City and Arsenal began.

As soon as Manchester City kicked off, the Gunners rushed towards Manchester City's backfield like a tide, and under the opposition's high press, the Manchester City players continued to dodge with their feet despite their foot skills, but there were still mistakes.

Kolasinac took the throw-in, beat Fabian Delph with Lacazette and dribbled to the bottom line of the cross, which was caught up by Delph.

Arsenal's corner kick, Walcott took the penalty, because the Gunners did not have a high point, so Walcourt low flat ball to the penalty area, unexpectedly hit the Manchester City players, soon Manchester City launched a counterattack, Raheem Sterling ran with the ball in the middle to the Arsenal backfield of the center circle arc to Kevin De Bruyne, De Bruyne with the ball diagonally, in the face of the Arsenal players who returned to the defense, De Bruyne left foot diagonal pass to the right side of the penalty area on the right side of the unguarded Aguero, Aguero adjusted after getting the ball and then pulled out his foot to volley at a small angle, but it was high.

Although there was no goal, the dangerous counter-attack was very worrying for the Gunners, who were unhappy with Theo Walcott's mistake and even more dissatisfied with Arsene Wenger's line-up.

Instead of kicking a goal kick wide, Petr Cech played a short ball to Koscielny on the edge of the box.

Sergio Aguero chased after Coscielny, who was watched on both the left and right, as well as Monreal, by Manchester City's players in pairs, in order to cut off Koscielny's short ball and force him to kick off and surrender possession.

Facing the menacing Aguero, Koscielny unhurriedly crossed to the left, and the ball fell between him and Monreal, at the feet of Tan Xibi, who had no one around him.

Aguero saw the ball move to the feet of Tan Xibi, who was unopposed, so he threw off Koscielny and chased after him, but Tan Xibi passed back to Koscielny and ran forward, catching the ball that Koscielny passed back to him.

This is a two-over-one pass at the back, not only got rid of Aguero who grabbed up, but Tan Xibi's retreat and running position defused Manchester City's high pressing, this scene made Josep Guardiola's eyes light up.