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Arsenal news: Sky Sports man delivers Unai Emery prediction after Man City defeat
UNAI EMERY is only at the very first stage of trying to get Arsenal back to where they want to be and he has to accept things may get worse before they get better.
Tony Adams slams Unai Emery after ‘disappointing’ clash
That is the verdict of Sky Sports pundit Craig Bellamy.
Arsenal suffered a disappointing start to the new Premier League campaign when they lost 2-0 to Manchester City at the Emirates.
The Gunners tried to play out from the back, but too often were picked apart by Pep Guardiola’s men who were able to exploit space on the flanks.
While there was the odd positive for Emery, particularly the debut of Matteo Guendouzi, the result highlighted the gulf in class between the two sides.
What we’ve seen is the first stage of where he’s at
Emery received criticism in the aftermath of the defeat and his methods were challenged.
But Bellamy believes that Arsenal are far from the finished product and believes it will take at least couple of months before Emery starts to reap the rewards.
When asked where the Gunners are at after the loss to City, Bellamy told Sky Sports’ The Debate: “It is short-term pain for long-term success.
“If you go into a football club, you have your ideas.
What we’ve seen is the first stage of where he’s at
“They’re not the worst ideas or else he wouldn’t have been appointed in the first place and he wouldn’t have won the Europa League with Sevilla or Ligue 1 title with PSG.
“He wouldn’t have done so well at Valencia.
“He’s a good manager. He’s gone in with his idea and this is how he wants to play.
“What we’ve seen is the first stage of where he’s at.
“Usually from watching and knowing his work, he’s someone who likes to play at all costs.”
Bellamy also explained that he has sympathy for Emery from a coaching perspective as it takes time to get across a philosophy.
“I’ve been through that stage with coaching,” Bellamy added.
“Once you get used to making angles, then you can build up the next stage.
“So after that you’ll be able to clip over the press.
“In the next couple of months, Arsenal will be hitting the press and the goalkeeper will be the first line of attack and being able to hit drives and putting forward one-on-one.”
Arsenal face another tricky test on Saturday (5.30pm) when they visit Chelsea.