Arsenal news: Unai Emery challenges his new team to start their season with a bang against Manchester City

The new Arsenal manager knows he is up against it in the club’s opening match of the season, but is hoping for a defining performance

Unai Emery has called on his new-look Arsenal to “show our performance on the biggest level” ahead of the club’s opening game of the season against Manchester City, while also declaring Stan Kroenke’s impending takeover a “positive”.

Emery is up against it in the first match of his Arsenal reign, as defending Premier League champions City visit the Emirates.

The last time Pep Guardiola’s team visited this particular corner of north London they ran out easy 3-0 winners en route to winning the title with a record 100 points, and although Emery said he is expecting a tough match, he wants an improved performance to help inspire confidence in his fledgling reign.

“This match demands our best moment tactically and we want to start well and play well, to show the quality of our work in this moment,” Emery said on Friday at Arsenal’s training ground.

“I want the team to show that we are together with our supporters, and I want the team to show everybody their best performance. It’s important for us to show that this is a new way, a new process, which involves everybody from the new players, to the new coach, to the new staff.”

Emery is well accustomed to taking on Guardiola from their time together managing in La Liga, although the new Arsenal manager’s record against his compatriot leaves a lot to be desired.

The pair locked horns ten times between 2008 and 2012 when they managed Valencia and Barcelona respectively, and the statistics don’t make pretty reading for Emery. He failed to win any of their ten meetings.

Unai Emery's first competitive game in charge of Arsenal is on Sunday (Getty)

And Emery knows how difficult it will be to start his time at Arsenal with a win.

“It’s far easier to talk about then to do out on the pitch,” he replied, when asked if he knew the best way to stop a Guardiola team.

“Also City have had two years with Guardiola. They have stability and when you watch their matches you see how they play with a very great confidence in themselves. Guardiola’s strategy is clear to see in this team.

“So we have been working all week to prepare for this game. Above all it is important that we have confidence in ourselves so that we produce the best match for ourselves.”

Arsenal begin their campaign with a home game against Manchester City (Arsenal FC via Getty)

There were also words of support for Kroenke, who is on the verge of completing a full takeover of the club, much to the dismay of some supporters.

But Emery said the controversial majority shareholder was clearly committed to the club.

“I saw the Kroenke family in Atlanta and he told me of his commitment to Arsenal,” he added. “For me it’s a positive and his commitment to Arsenal is the most important thing.”