Raheem Sterling acknowledged that Manchester City benefited from the return of Sergio Aguero as they ground out a 1-0 win against Arsenal to get their season back on track.
Sterling has had to play as a false nine this season with Aguero and Gabriel Jesus missing but the Argentine’s first action since injuring his knee in June gave City a better shape and allowed Sterling to play deeper where he filled in for Kevin De Bruyne, who had a muscular problem.
‘To have an out-and-out striker to link up with was really good again,’ said Sterling, who missed England’s last group of internationals to rest a hamstring complaint.