Unai Emery is relishing the challenge of beginning his Arsenal tenure against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in what will be Emery’s first game as Arsenal’s head coach.
The 46-year-old replaced Arsene Wenger in May and, with a trip to Chelsea six days later, Emery could not have wished for a more difficult start to life in England.
But he is ready for the challenge – even if he is aware of the threat posed by last season’s runaway champions.
“We want to start well, we want to play and we want to show our quality, our work in this month tactically and with our spirit,” he said.
“I want to show and to be together with the supporters and to start a new way, a new process. With the same players and also our new players with us, and with a new culture and new staff.”
Emery also risked the early wrath of the Arsenal supporters as he suggested majority shareholder Stan Kroenke’s move to take complete control of the club is a positive thing.
Many fans were unhappy with the news that Kroenke is on the verge of buying out Alisher Usmanov, with the Arsenal Supporters Trust labelling the news as a “dreadful day” for the club.
“I met the Kroenke family in Atlanta and he gave us his commitment in this project with Arsenal,” added Emery.
“For me, it’s positive and his commitment is for me, to Arsenal, the most important.”