Three reasons why Arsenal fans must not be disheartened after 0-2 loss to Man City

Arsenal embarked on their new era under Unai Emery in underwhelming fashion as they succumbed to a 0-2 loss against Manchester City at Emirates Stadium.

To be fair, it is nearly impossible for a new manager to replace an iconic figure like Arsene Wenger. And the fact that they had to face the defending champions for their season opener only added to the disaster.

While the Gunners do have a few positives to take away from that game, it goes without saying that they have a tough road ahead of them. Although they did good transfer businesses over the summer with Emery at the helm, Arsenal have a long way to go before they can regain their lost glory under the new manager.

The loss was certainly heart-breaking but Arsenal fans must not give up hope. Here are three reasons why the Gunners must hold their head up high and forget about the loss.

Matteo Guendouzi’s blistering start to life in the Premier League

It is not an easy task for a 19-year-old to come in and work wonders in a foreign league right from the get-go. And yet, that’s exactly what Guendouzi did against the mighty defending champions. In fact, he was arguably Arsenal’s best outfield player.

There were a few moments where the youngster’s inexperience was evident but for the most part, Guendouzi impressed with his industrious, energetic and agile display in the middle of the park. Furthermore, the fact that he received a start only shows that Emery is willing to provide chances for the younger members of the team.

Manchester City are a formidable opponent for almost any team

Pep Guardiola’s high-flying side has been a class apart for the longest time now. They outperformed all their rivals in the Premier League last season as they launched a sensation attempt to win the title. And now, it looks like they are fighting tooth and nail to retain the trophy this year.

When it comes to playing as a well-drilled unit, nobody does it better than City. They attack ruthlessly, defend like a dream and their midfielders are capable of dominating anybody and everybody. Hence, Arsenal must be cut some slack since there are hardly a handful of teams that can go up against the Sky Blues and walk away unscathed.

Arsenal showing signs of playing a high-pressing game

Emery’s tactics in the first-half displayed signs of a high-pressing game. Of course, things went downhill after City scored their two goals but as mentioned earlier, the Gunners showed plenty of promise in the initial stages.

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang led the charge and was amply supported by Aaron Ramsey in the midfield. This move did work for the Londoners but they need to improve to make the system more efficient. Regardless, they have the whole season ahead of them and if Emery plays his cards right, Arsenal can only go forward from here.