Unai Emery's reign as Arsenal manager didn't quite start as he intended on Sunday as the Gunners lost 2-0 to Premier League champions Manchester City.

Goals from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva were enough to earn City a second-consecutive victory at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal had brief spells of positive play and it quickly became clear that the players were trying to stick to Emery's philosophy of passing out from the back and pressing high.

Naturally, Emery realises that it will take time for the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil to get used to his way of playing.

"It was a good atmosphere with our supporters," said the Spaniard. "It was a big motivation to start watching the squad. We want to start today here, with our supporters.

"But Manchester City's performance showed us we have to continue our process of improving. They deserved the result.

"We were improving during the 90 minutes. The second half we had chances to get a better result. Today, City is demanding our best performance.

WORK IN PROGRESS

"We need to continue working. I am happy with the players because they run, they fight. We need to continue to work to shorten the difference today between City and us.

"This is the start, we need to do one process, one way. Today is the first step on that.

"City are working for years with [Pep] Guardiola, also they are building one team with security, with great players who are playing the style they want. We are starting."

Instant results are an impossibility for Emery, so the former Paris Saint-Germain boss must be given time and shown faith by Arsenal's board.

And according to the Telegraph, that's exactly what they're prepared to do.

Since the City defeat, Emery has been reassured by Ivan Gazidis that he will not be judged on early results at Arsenal because they realise he's been handed a tough start.

Furthermore, Arsenal chiefs want Emery to continue making big decisions - like starting Matteo Guendouzi against City - and are confident the results will come.

Gazidis also met with Emery's rival for the Arsenal job over the summer, Mikel Arteta, to make sure there were no hard feelings over the appointment.

Arteta had been favourite to replace Arsene Wenger and was keen to take over, but Emery ended up being chosen.

Only time will tell whether Arsenal made the right decision.