Arsenal duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan miss sitters

The Czech Republic worldwide struggled during Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the Premier League opener. I think we need to give that calm to the players and continue working.

Petr Cech was a surprise starter ahead of Bernd Leno for the season opener against the Citizens but he is now expected to start between the sticks for the London derby.

“I think on Sunday against Manchester City, the team kept their ideas, kept their spirit in the game for the full 90 minutes, even when we were losing, and didn’t let their heads go down. He needs to do (it) in each match, be demanding for us but defensive moments are for each and every player”, he added.

Arsenal did get themselves back to 2-2, but Marcos Alonso netted a late victor to compound their misery. “I think the result is 3-2 but we also think we created chances to score more score”, Emery told BTSports.

Arsenal’s insistent passing style and Emery’s choice of starting XI has been heavily criticised and after just one competitive match in English football, Emery has already experienced some of the harsher perspectives of the English press. And, needless to say, it won’t be easy, not least of all because it’s at Stamford Bridge.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who did later score, also stuck an effort over the bar from a similar position, with most of the goal to aim at.

“There are defensive moments and attacking moments”.

“The possibility to play Aubameyang and Lacazette is okay because we are trying like that in pre-season and also previous year they played together also”, he added.

Chelsea dominated much of the second half despite Emery making a tactical half-time substitution to bring on new signing Lucas Torreira for Granit Xhaka, who had struggled up to that point.

It’s a courageous show of loyalty from Emery to say he’ll stick with Cech; it’s now down to the Blues to prove the Spaniard wrong – and there’s definitely a good chance of that.

I know end-of-season results mean little in a new campaign but its telling that Chelsea reversed that draw with Huddersfield by smashing them away last week…. I made a decision to change it because I think we needed a little more of a push in the middle, so that we couldn’t let Chelsea progress easily with the ball.

“We did very well for 75 minutes but inside that, 15 minutes [when Arsenal scored twice] were frightful”.

“We are continuing this work and against Chelsea we are going to analyse the opposition. I’m sure he is going to do well”.