Manchester City gave me a fantastic squad - Guardiola
Culled from BBC
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praises his "fantastic squad" after the defending champions beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates in their first Premier League match of the season, BBC reported.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says his side will get even better as they deservedly beat Arsenal on the opening day of the Premier League season.
The Gunners were playing their first competitive game without Arsene Wenger in charge since 1996 but were well beaten by the defending champions.
Raheem Sterling put City ahead in the 14th minute when he got the ball on the corner of the box, cut beyond two players and rifled home from 20 yards.
Riyad Mahrez went close to scoring on his league debut for City when his free-kick was saved by Petr Cech, who denied Aymeric Laporte from the follow-up.
It was always going to be a tough first game for Unai Emery at Arsenal and they had few clear-cut chances - with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and substitute Alexandre Lacazette shooting wide from outside the box.
City were brilliant in parts - and controlled in others - and killed off the game when Benjamin Mendy, who assisted both goals, pulled the ball back for Bernardo Silva to blast in a second.
"We have a lot of players with a lack of condition but we are more than two seasons together and know what to do," Guardiola told BBC Sport. "We made a good performance in general and day by day we will get better and better.
"I am privileged to be manager of Manchester City. They have given me a fantastic squad. I cannot complain for one minute."
Pep Guardiola's City, who looked good in the 2-0 Community Shield win over Chelsea, were in fine form again. They only signed one first-team player - Mahrez in a £60m record deal - in the summer, and he went straight into their Premier League line-up.
Sterling, who was selected on the left wing over Leroy Sane, opened the scoring when he received a pass from Mendy, making his first Premier League start since September.
The England winger received the ball on the left corner of the box, beat Hector Bellerin and Matteo Guendouzi and then rifled a 20-yard shot past Cech, who must have been unsighted as he barely moved.
It was his 50th Premier League goal and a good start to the season after being harshly criticised during England's World Cup semi-final run.
"I couldn't wait for my holidays to finish," he told BBC Sport. "I needed to get back and I'm really happy I could be involved today. I wanted to play and it's great that we got three points."
