Hector Bellerin accepts that Arsenal have a long way to go to match Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City but maintains there are positives from Unai Emery’s Emirates debut even though it ended in a 2-0 defeat.
The Gunners consistently tried to play out from the back, albeit nervously, Matteo Guendouzi looked bright on his debut and numerous chances were created after the break.
The Emirates faithful were even treated to a tactical substitution early in the second half, something of a novelty after 22 years of Arsene Wenger’s steadfast fascination with the 68th minute.
“I see the game as something positive,” he told Arsenal.com.
“Having been on the pitch today, I think that compared to where we were last year I think we looked better and had chances in the second half that we didn’t score.
“We’re playing against a team that have been around each other for three years and they have new players and were crowned champions, so we knew that it was going to be hard, so for us it’s about taking the positives.”
The Gunners next travel to Stamford Bridge, another tough test, albeit one against a club learning the stylings of their own new manager.
“There’s still loads of games but you cannot be missing out on points,” noted Bellerin.
“Every single point is important and going away to Chelsea is always hard.
“They showed yesterday that they’re a team that play very good football under Sarri, and we’re up for the challenge.
“We played them in pre-season so we know more or less how they play, so now we have a whole week to prepare and get ready for it.”
The Spaniard also drew attention to the fact that Guardiola didn’t achieve instant success at City and that it’ll take more time to get used to all the changes at the Emirates.
“I think after 22 years under Arsene Wenger there are many things that are changing so it’s important for everyone to get used to all the players.
“Everyone should be very excited because it’s a new era for us and it’s about learning with the new coach, learning the new system and I’m sure we’ll get better.
“If you compare it to Guardiola’s first year it was a very hard year for him – and look where they are now! So we need to look at it that way. It’s a positive change and we’re excited.”
Dissapinted but he is right. COYG!
Exciting times indeed. I think the arseblog will be my go to website this season. Some of the other platforms *cough*Reddit*cough* are full of keyboard warriors who offer nothing but ridicule to the entire Arsenal fan base. You should have seen the comments in the Live threads. Damn! I did not have the opportunity to watch the game so I was pretty worried that we were already going into relegation zone by November! These are uncertain times for sure. But everything points to a bright future provided Emery is given time plus tremendous support. At least here, that support will… Read more »
“Hello,” says cunt #1.
Note to self – Lets make this as an example on how not to introduce yourselves.
Am very excited!
Some good points, despite no points from the match. Too early to judge though would have preferred goal at least or a bigger threat of one.
If we can start performing away that would help a lot, starting at Chelsea with the best players from today (eg Torreira, Laca to start).
We’re arsenal. We shouldn’t be excited about a 2-0 defeat at home. We’re not stoke for heavens sake
I dont think he’s wanting us to be excited about the defeat in itself. It seems like the players are more in tune with what they’re being asked to under the new boss, but success will take time like it took city, even with pep and the players they bought. For this season, I’m excited about the possibility of getting back in the top four and using Europa league for our youngsters to learn Unai’s methods. In the long term, I’d like us to be challenging for the league and getting further in the champions league.
Exactly. Goal this year is 4th as a minimum. And to be fair, the most likely goal to be achieved. Maybe a good run in europa as well, Emery has pedigree in that comp.
But fans who want instant success, especially against the champions and probable champions again this season, are having a laugh!
I missed Welbeck. Never thought, I would.
Definitely thought we could get some points out of this, but knew it would be a tough ask for the first real match under a new manager. Definitely optimistic about the season ahead and know we will have our growing pains at times. The key for us this year will be making sure we get maximum points off of the teams we should beat (which was always how we managed to stay in the top 4 with our struggles against the top teams) which did not happen the last two years costing us the top 4. I think this first… Read more »
The main difference being “City have ambitious owners who back their manager, we have a greedy unambitious twat who wears a stupid toupee and only wants to bleed us dry”…. #KroenkeOut
And yet he’s brought in Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ozil, Mhiki, Torreira, Emery. He’s not the most public guy, but let’s not pretend he’s completely unambitious.
He hasn’t brought anyone in. He has spent all his money on shares. Not 1 penny on anything else. Not even the shampoo in the changing rooms.
He hasn’t put in any money, in fact he’s taken out £6million.
And Arsenal fans will likely be the ones who fun his takeover.
Every now and then I pause and take a step back and shake my head at what Chelsea and now ManC and PSG have done/are doing to football.
Maybe get a hair cut, stop the photoshoots and have a good hard look at his own game while he’s at it.
You’re hassling a professional sportsman for his hair and photos. Perhaps you should have a good hard look at your…. keyboard?
Damo dinkum do you really think people would complain about his hair and fashion if he played to his full potential? There’s a growing concern that he’s become too comfortable with his game and doesn’t want to improve.
And his haircut and style are to blame? Sure, comment on performances, but the sneers about ‘should be doing this and that’ and about his personal style are just plain juvenile.
bellerin has to do more than talking and photo sessions…the two goals conceded were from his defensive side and he was at fault especially for the first one…AMN and lichtsteiner playing out of position were far better
I am really hoping Bellerin should be benched for a few games while Lich takes his spot and runs the RB show(when nacho returns to LB). Bellerin had been consistently mediocre, save his first season with the first team.
Warming the bench will help him unleash the pacy, skilled and stylish player we once saw in him
I know he’s young and has potential and blah blah but He’s incredibly bad defensively and has been since being introduced to the first team. His pace doesn’t seem to even be that much of a weapon anymore. I can’t tell the last time Bellerin blocked a cross or had a winger (any winger) in his figurative pocket. Koscielny used to make our defense look better than it really is, but now there’s no one to cover Bellerin’s errors. All good RBs bomb forward yet somehow are able to recover well to their positions. Defensively Bellerin is likely one of… Read more »
That Arsenal were outclassed is a fact.The gunners are still a Wenger version
trying to pass their way.They still take too many touches and too long too unleash a shot.Bythen the cavalry was in place.
Furthermore the forwards left their shooting boots at home.I believe the gunners shd have had apenalty when Mustaphi was brought down in the box.
I have seen it given . That’s why I still believe the gunners are playing against 12 if not 14 players.
Great touch by Bellerin though to fashion out the shooting opportunity from an equally good cross from AMN first half.
Sterling was allowed to run at the defenders.I have been saying for years Arsenal
need someone like that. Ox was that guy. Defenders dread back tracking and could fall in the process.
Things improved when Laczette came on.Hopefully things will improve and so shd the
defence.When MC scored the 2nd goal,he had plenty of time and space unlike the Arsenal forwards.
That’s what Alexis gave us.
It was good and bad bc he would also lose the ball very often.
BUT you felt you did not want to curb him bc he was the instigator that pulled the other side out of shape bc he could and was willing to take out one or two players at a trot.
We are missing that element.
Closest to it is Iwobi and to lesser extent Nelson bc of inexperience (relative)
Ramsey, Ozil, Mhki tend to be more pass and move players.
Almost sounding like Theo Walcott to me there. Walker showed what a full back with aggressive pace and intention can achieve, i hope Bellerin can find that because he’s stagnating almost.
Mind you AMN gave back as much as Walker dished out. Pity he fell awkward.
Think Lichsteiner for most parts was OK as well against Walker but they have Mahrez to team up on that side. Add Sterling into the mix, we had our hands full.
In view of that, we did reasonably ok.
I think we had positives. We didn’t cower or look lost. We were aggressive enough and we went toe to toe for large spells, apart from Guendouzi slip did not get terribly torn up by their pace. Largely we moved pretty OK as a unit, did not leave too many gaps and high press was sustained indeed we turned them over a number of times close to their box. What we need to improve : 1)That area in front of the box. Both goals came in from there. We had 2 in deep midfield which was the right thing but… Read more »
All true.
Plenty of reasons to be positive.
For me, although there are a lot of the old habits in the team, we looked so much better than last season, despite the score.
The substitutions were really interesting as well. Lots to look forward to.
Going to be a fascinating season (or 3), one way or another. Looking forward to the adventure with Unai et al tremendously. The ownership is what it is. The interest is in watching the coaching team doing their bit with what they have. We can moan about not having the baddest billionaire, but he’s going nowhere. As an aside, I’ve calculated that the fans who leave 10 mins before the end miss 4 full games per season. Still haven’t worked out what motivates them.
We definitely shouldn’t go overboard over losing against the best team in the league in our head coach’s first game. In terms of Bellerin, what happened to the pacey, progressive player with great defensive recovery we once had? Hopefully under Emery we’ll see him go back to the guy that would run past players and not just passing sideways and backwards.
He did well to beat his man early on, unfortunately the shot went straight at the keeper.