Petr Cech has urged Arsenal supporters to be patient as Unai Emery instigates a change of approach at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners were beaten 2-0 by defending champions Manchester City in their Premier League opener on Sunday.
It was Emery’s first competitive game at the helm after he replaced Arsene Wenger in May – the Frenchman departing after a 22-year tenure.
Raheem Sterling opened the scoring before Bernardo Silva wrapped up three points for Pep Guardiola’s men.
Emery is keen to implement a high pressing game and, on Sunday’s evidence, has also stressed he wants his side to play out from the back. His pre-season preparations included double sessions and improving the fitness of his players.
But with so much being altered, Cech – who was arguably at fault for Sterling’s goal and had a few shaky moments attempting to play short balls to his defenders – believes it could take a while for Emery’s vision to come to fruition.
“I think they have to understand that when you start building a new team with a new manager and a completely new way it may take time,” he said when asked if fans need to be patient.
“But I think we have been doing really well and we need to adjust a few things but I think we are on a good way.
“Obviously, today we faced probably the biggest favourite to win the title, next week we have another big game but we will be better prepared because we have this game behind us. I believe we pushed them (City) more than Chelsea did in the Community Shield.”
Under Wenger, Arsenal were thrashed 3-0 by City in the space of four days last season, including the Carabao Cup final.
Although Sunday’s meeting still ended in defeat, Cech, who was selected ahead of summer signing Bernd Leno and captained Emery’s side, insists there are some positives to take from the season opener.
“I think it was a great test for us, a great task,” he said.
“We are disappointed obviously because we have been working hard and we hoped we could have got something out of the game, but in the end they showed their quality and scored two goals and we didn’t – that was the difference.
“There are a lot of things we can take on board and improve and with a positive mind go to the next game because there were certain things we set up and wanted to ever since we started pre-season and we managed to put it in the game and do it well. But obviously a few things we didn’t do, so I think it will help us improve.
“We knew it was going to be difficult, obviously we are growing as a team.
“We try and build the team and create our own way of playing, obviously we have been doing that for five weeks, they have been doing that for three years now so obviously they have a big advantage.”