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Football London
Football London
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Tom Coley

Arsenal leave Riyad Mahrez gutted with transfer decision this summer as Edu vindicted for choice

Manchester City fans won't be surprised to see some familiar faces sitting top of the table. Pep Guardiola's side have been used to setting the standards in English football for a while and often look down on the league.

Two of his most favoured players are top right now, but they're wearing the red and white of Arsenal as Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus continue their fine starts to life in London.

After eight games last season, City were third, two points off the top, whilst the Gunners laboured in 11th. Now it's the former City players that have got off to the blistering start, taking seven wins from a possible eight and playing some of the best football seen at the Emirates for a long time.

READ MORE: Oleksandr Zinchenko reacts on Instagram after completing unique Arsenal 'hat-trick' vs Tottenham

Although there has been an all-around revival, central to the changing attitudes has been the immediate impact of Zinchenko and Jesus, with the experienced winners raising the standards and setting examples for the rest to follow.

Guardiola's side themselves are still unbeaten and look just as threatening as always, but one of their stars from last season has been blunted this campaign and may well be missing his ex-Brazilian teammate.

Speaking to talkSPORT, title-winning right-back with Leicester Danny Simpson praised the Gunners but thought he could see where the biggest change came from. "They've started really well. [William] Saliba's been fantastic. [Thomas] Partey, [Granit] Xhaka – look at where he was and where he is now. It's been a complete turnaround," he said.

Simpson played with City forward Riyad Mahrez during the famous 15/16 season for the Foxes and knows how talented the Algerian is, but without Jesus and Zinchenko, his form has dropped off. "[Gabriel] Jesus – I knew he was going to be fantastic – and Zinchenko," added Simpson.

"I spoke to Riyad Mahrez, and Zinchenko was in his top three of players and their ability at Manchester City, and we know how good the players are at City. He was gutted they lost Jesus, but he understood why. Them two players and their winning mentality have added something to that group."

This season Mahrez has played five times without contributing a goal. This time last term, with his now Arsenal players in support, Mahrez had two goals and an assist despite starting just two of the first eight matches. He ended the campaign with 11 goals and five assists, with Jesus battling for the same right-wing spot and Zinchenko's support from fullback on the opposite side.

The Ukrainian can play in midfield and defence and is one of the best technical players at the club. Having played under Guardiola and gotten the respect of Mahrez, he must be. Arsenal themselves were interested in Mahrez before he joined City in 2016. Now the Gunners have poached two of the most talented players from the pool at the Etihad, and the gap they've left behind is already obvious.

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