Life without Aguero begins with a draw for City while Lucas Perez makes a strong, but possibly futile, case for himself as Arsenal romp to victory in group-winning style. Here’s what we learned from last night’s Champions League action.
Man City 1 Celtic 1
Kelechi Iheanacho (6.6) began his potentially extended turn as Sergio Aguero’s (13.0) replacement with a goal in a match otherwise lacking in definitive pointers as to how Pep Guardiola will work around the Argentinian’s four-match ban.
With the tie the deadest of rubbers, the City boss opted for a decidedly experimental line-up, starting the match with three right-backs and a number of teenagers filling various roles.
John Stones (4.9), Nicolas Otamendi (5.9), who will be suspended for Saturday’s trip to Leicester, and Aguero were all benched, while Kevin De Bruyne (10.8) and David Silva (8.7) had the night off.
The 9.4% of Fantasy Premier League managers with Ilkay Gundogan (5.4) in their sides would have wished the same fate on the German. The fact that he started suggests a reduced role for him at the weekend – Yaya Toure is, of course, available to Guardiola.
By contrast, Guardiola’s use of Pablo Zabaleta (4.7) as a holding midfielder could point to the defender being given a run as Fernadinho’s (5.4) replacement while the Brazilian serves his three-match ban.
Nolito (8.6) set up Iheanacho’s goal, which followed a Celtic opener scored by winger Patrick Roberts – on loan from City. The 19-year-old’s strike seemed appropriate on a night when Guardiola started Tosin Adarabioyo, also 19, in defence and had 16-year-old Phil Foden among his substitutes.
If they represent City’s future, Guardiola was giving nothing away about his present plans in his post-match comments on Iheanacho.
“He [Iheanacho] scored a good goal. There’s not extra pressure (with Aguero’s suspension), he has to make his job for him and for the team.”
Nolito impressed, Iheanacho scored and De Bruyne stayed at home – all three could step in to Sergio’s shoes at the King Power. Guardiola might have learned more about that topic from last night’s match, but we have given up attempting to second guess his intentions.
Having said that, Iheanacho appears to be in little doubt as to his role…
“I have a responsibility to be the striker for the team, replacing Sergio when he is not around. I have to prove myself, give my best and work hard for the team and make sure we get the wins we need.”
Man City XI: Caballero, Sagna, Maffeo (Navas 62), Adarabioyo, Clichy, Zabaleta, Fernando, Gündogan, Nolito, Iheanacho, Sané.
Subs not used: Gunn, Agüero, Stones, Otamendi, Angelino, Foden.
Basel 1 Arsenal 4
Basel had their chances, but Arsenal had better ones and took them to secure a surprise top spot in their Champions League group.
Lucas Perez (7.8) starred, scoring a hat-trick that will most likely do no more than marginally improve his position in the pecking order of an Arsenal attack enjoying an abundant early December.
The summer signing has had just 88 minutes of league action thus far, and his performance in Basel should help him see more when the Christmas schedule really bites.
But with Alexis Sanchez (11.6) starting and both Theo Walcott (8.0) and the fit-again Olivier Giroud (8.7) also featuring in Switzerland, Perez is likely to remain a bit-part player at best.
At least he now has more goals to his name, courtesy of two assists from a consistently dangerous Kieran Gibbs (4.8) and one from Sanchez. Mesut Ozil (9.6) then set up Alex Iwobi (5.8) to cap a fine display from the German.
Shkodran Mustafi (6.1) was rested, Rob Holding (4.1) deputised and Gabriel (4.8) again filled in at right back, but they could not combine to keep a clean sheet – much as Arsenal have failed to do for the past five Gameweeks in the league as well.
That was the only blight on an otherwise impressive night, although tougher tests and better goalkeepers are to come.
Having said that, aside from a Gameweek 17 trip to Man City, the Gunners have strong enough fixtures all the way to February and their offensive threat is there for all to see – they have been blanked just twice in the league all season, while scoring at least three goals on eight of the other 12 occasions.
Where Perez fits into all that remains to be seen.
Arsenal XI: Ospina, Gabriel, Holding, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey (Giroud 70), Xhaka, Iwobi, Özil (Walcott 74), Pérez, Sánchez (Elneny 70).
Subs not used: Cech, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Monreal, Mustafi.
7 years, 4 months ago2 FTs and was planning to do Firmino/Mane + Lukaku ➡ cheap mid + Kane.
Last time I asked, people suggested me to drop Mane; but given his form and constant threat, am I crazy to ditch Firmino instead of him?