If the experienced pair of John Stones and Manu Akanji are combining to gift the opposition goals, what hope does Pep Guardiola have?

Against Arsenal on Sunday, just like a week ago vs Chelsea, Manchester City were masters of their downfall within two minutes and the Blues were chasing the game for the third game in a row. All down to their own doing.

Last week was the nightmare debut for Abdukodir Khusanov which can be put down to opening night nerves from a youngster in a new club, country and league. Stones and Akanji can't have the same excuse at the Emirates, even with Stefan Ortega in goal who lacks the ball-playing calmness of Ederson.

READ MORE: Man City transfer latest as Douglas Luiz claim made and £4million midfielder move close

READ MORE: £50m stumbling block, midfield exits - what to expect from Man City on transfer deadline day

Akanji spoke of grinding out wins after the Champions League success against Club Brugge, and the confidence in the City dressing room. He was at fault, not helped by Stones' ball to him, and City never recovered.

They equalised, of course, but were behind 60 seconds later when the defence backed off Thomas Partey and the ball flew in off Stones' back. Stones backed off Myles Lewis-Skelly for Arsenal's third, watching it go in from the turf as he slid in vain.

And the fourth was another transition that caught City's defence cold. The fifth was a lovely finish, but with zero pressure again. Four of the five goals saw Stones watch the ball go past him, with the other hitting him on the way in. He wasn't the reason they lost but was a yard off the pace every time.

City were statues as they defended and statues as they walked back to their positions for the fifth time. Guardiola motionless on the touchline.

Stones wasn't risked vs Chelsea last week as he couldn't play the two games in five days. Here he was, starting a second game in five days due to necessity and the gamble didn't pay off.

With Ortega in goal, Arsenal pressed high and intensely led by Martin Odegaard and got their rewards. They knew City were weaker without Ederson and Ortega was ponderous, but City persisted regardless of the high press.

At one point, Stones took a ball from Ortega, looked forward and could only shrug with no midfielders or forwards presenting an option. He played back to Ortega, turned back with another shrug, and another City move broke down.

It was symptomatic of City's afternoon. The same self-destructive mistakes, made time after time, and no Plan B.

Maybe that was down to personnel. Or stubbornness. But it didn't work and City must start from square one again with their next big test in nine days a visit of Real Madrid. They will be equally as ruthless as Arsenal were.