Benjamin Mendy doesn't exactly need any help when it comes to his social media, well no more than he may already have, but some advice from Manchester City's assistant manager helped him against Arsenal.
Manchester City started the defence of their Premier League title in typical fashion. In beating Arsenal 2-0 they pretty much picked up where they left of with Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva giving Pep Guardiola the first three points of their season.
The biggest sub plot to the game was that it was Unai Emery's first game in charge of the Gunners' since taking over from Arsene Wenger after 22 years of the Frenchman being in charge.
Behind that was the fact Mikel Arteta, sat in the away dugout as Guardiola's assistant, could have been in Emery's seat instead with Arsenal looking at one point like they were going to appoint their former midfielder.
Advert
In the end they went for Emery to the delight of Pep, and the former Barcelona manager seemed to be extra pleased when Bernardo Silva made it 2-0 from Benjamin Mendy's cross, celebrating wildly with his right hand man.
Speaking on the 93:20 podcast, Guardiola insider Marti Perarnau explained the tactical change, suggested by Arteta, that led to the goal, explaining:
"Do you remember from Sunday's game, after the second goal, Pep's hug with Mikel?
"That was because Mikel said to Mendy, 'Don't make a high cross when you get to the end line, make a cut-back along the floor,' and after that Bernardo scored the goal.
Advert
"He [also] talked with Mendy and Sterling to try to make a double pass before the last cut-back."
That's pretty much exactly how the second goal went in for the Citizens with Sterling and Mendy combining on the left before the World Cup winner cut it back in low for Bernardo to smack home.
Arteta had also reportedly come up with the plan for Sterling to play on the left and exploit the lack of pace of Mesut Ozil down Arsenal's right.
Advert
Mendy might have had a big impact but at the end of the game his manager still told him off, jokingly, for his social media output:
Mendy won't regret that anywhere near as much as Arsenal might regret not securing Arteta's clear tactical nous.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Pep Guardiola, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Benjamin Mendy
