Unai Emery: Arsenal need time to bridge Manchester City divide

Arsenal FC via Getty Images
James Benge13 August 2018

Unai Emery insisted he would need time to bridge the gulf in quality between his Arsenal side and Manchester City after his debut ended in a gruelling 2-0 defeat.

Goals from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva either side of half-time ensured that Emery’s first match as Arsenal head coach ended in drearily familiar fashion, with the Gunners once more outclassed by the sort of side they aspire to rival.

The Spaniard had written in his pre-match programme notes of his desire to restore Arsenal to the upper echelon of European football but he was under no illusion as to the scale of the task even before Pep Guardiola’s men handed him such a comprehensive lesson.

“We know [how big the gap is],” Emery told Standard Sport. “Today is the first step.

In Pictures | Arsenal vs Manchester City | 12/08/2018

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“Manchester City are in their third year with Guardiola, building one team with security, good players and great stability, playing like they want.

“We are starting.”

If the result was all too familiar for Arsenal there was still plenty to differentiate this side with Arsene Wenger’s.

In particular the energetic pressing of Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had City on the back foot in the early exchanges, whilst the defensive line largely held together with a resilience not often shown last season.

There were, though, moments when the worst Arsenal of the Wenger era reared their heads, none more so than an opening goal where Sterling was able to drift past Hector Bellerin and Matteo Guendouzi before curling past Petr Cech.

Emery still saw signs of progress: “The first half and second half were very different for me. In the first we conceded more space on the pitch to Manchester City.

Getty Images

“They are a very good team in these situations, also because they have the confidence in their performance. In the second half we took more risks in the pressing, when we were with the ball we broke their lines and went for it quickly.

“This 90 minutes is how I want to do the process of improving our team. We finished it with the spirit I want. The team ran, they tried, they pushed.

“We need to improve collectively and individually. This process today is normal against a team like Manchester City.”

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