But if Emery can take the north London side one step further, that can be classed as a successful season according to Shearer.
“It’s been a difficult start to the season for Arsenal, I don’t see them being anywhere near contending for the league title, that is there for everyone to see,” Shearer wrote in his blog for Coral.
“They have some decent players but it isn’t going to be enough to push the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.
“Their aim has to be to try and break back into the top four and maybe challenge for one of the cup competitions.
“It is never easy when a new manager comes in to replace someone who has been there as long as Wenger was.
Unai Emery shouldn't aim for the stars in his first season as Arsenal manager says Alan Shearer (Image: GETTY)
“It is going to take a long time for everyone at the club to adjust to a new way of doing things.”
Arsenal lost their opening Premier League game of the season, beaten 2-0 at home by reigning champs City.
Emery appeared to have adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front on his own and Alexandre Lacazette on the bench.
When Lacazette came on as a second-half substitute, Aubameyang moved out to the left-hand side.
However, former Gunners striker Paul Mariner wants to see the pair played centrally together, with Mesut Ozil behind them in a 4-3-1-2 formation.
“Here’s what’s got to happen with this team,” Mariner said.
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Alan Shearer is now an award-winning Premier League pundit (Image: GETTY)
“Unai Emery has got to look at his squad, he’s been there long enough now, he’s got to change the system, for me. 4-3-1-2.
“Play Ozil in the 10, play those two through the middle, Lacazette and Aubameyang.
“When it’s a goal kick (to the opposition), you just split them out, you get Ozil up so they can’t build up the back, that’s dead easy.
“You don’t bomb both full-backs on at the same time.
“No (Henrikh Mkhitaryan doesn’t play). (Aaron) Ramsey is always in the team for me, always.”