Player Ratings Explained: Sterling stars as Arsenal’s problems persist

Champions Manchester City get off the mark with three points at Arsenal, with Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva on the scoresheet for the away side.

We take a look at the individual performances of those on show and explain the reasons behind the ratings.

ARSENAL: 6.44

Petr Cech: 7.39 - After a questionable first half performance at best, Cech ultimately justified his selection over Bernd Leno with a string of important saves. Unsighted for the first goal but should have positioned himself better.

Hector Bellerin: 7.29 - Still doesn’t look disciplined defensively but did offer some threat going forwards, testing Ederson with a decent attempt in the first half.

Shkodran Mustafi: 7.16 - Did little wrong in a game in which City predominantly attacked from wide areas. Produced three tackles.

Sokratis: 6.25 - A difficult debut for the Greek international. Booked having given away a free-kick on the edge of his box

Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 6.45 - Struggled to cope with City’s right flank early on but showed good pace at times and got forward before picking up a first half injury.

Matteo Guendouzi: 6.29 - A mixed debut from the teenager, who showed great courage to get on the ball but made a number of errors in and out of possession. Battled hard and was considerably better than his midfield partner.

Grant Xhaka: 5.97 - Surely his last start in a defensive midfield role for some time. Lost possession too often in his own half and booked, again, for a cynical foul.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 6.65 - Far better without the ball than with it, the weight of his passing was poor on the counter but he did weigh in with five tackles.

Aaron Ramsey: 6.66 - Arsenal’s liveliest player with and without the ball before being substituted. Battled hard but a pass accuracy of 64 per cent let him down.

Mesut Ozil: 6.17 - It’s becoming increasingly difficult to defend his apathetic displays and lacklustre style. Poor choice of pass on too many occasions.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 5.97 - Looked off the pace and didn’t get involved, mustering just one wayward attempt at goal.

Subs: Stephane Lichtsteiner (5.88), Alexandre Lacazette (5.71), Lucas Torreira (6.26)

MANCHESTER CITY: 6.98

Ederson: 7.14 - Relatively untested but made three comfortable saves. Some hairy moments in possession late on.

Kyle Walker: 7.60 - His pace on the overlap was too hot for Arsenal to handle in the first half as City targeted Arsenal’s makeshift left flank. Completed three dribbles and 91 per cent of his passes.

John Stones: 7.23 - A very assured display once more from the England man, who defended his box well and thwarted Arsenal’s best attack of the first half to deny Mkhitaryan.

Aymeric Laporte: 7.07 - Very strong in possession, completing 93 per cent of his passes, and had two attempts in the opposition box. All in all very comfortable alongside Stones.

Benjamin Mendy: 7.75 - Some questionable defending at times but powerful on the break and played the crucial pass for City’s two strikes.

Ilkay Gundogan: 6.62 - A little sluggish in possession and didn’t offer a great deal of protection to the defence as City dropped off.

Fernandinho: 6.71 - Not at his best in the middle of the park but didn’t need to be. Didn’t make a single tackle or interception.

Riyad Mahrez: 6.97 - Made a lively start and posed Maitland-Niles some problems early on but faded and was replaced in the second half.

Bernardo Silva: 7.32 - Relatively quiet before his goal and poor in possession, completing just 69 per cent of his passes, but an emphatic finish ended Arsenal’s hopes.

Raheem Sterling: 7.78 (Man of the Match) - Made an excellent start to the game and was clearly keen to prove a point with a fine goal having been denied early on.

Sergio Aguero: 6.83 - Lively and worked hard but should have scored in the second half with a one-on-one, or better still laid in Kevin De Bruyne for an open goal.

Subs: Kevin De Bruyne (6.51), Gabriel Jesus (5.96), Leroy Sane (6.19)