Unai Emery: 'Pep Guardiola is a better manager than me'

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has ruled out the prospect of England striker Danny Welbeck leaving the club this month but said that Carl Jenkinson, David Ospina, and Joel Campbell have all been informed they are surplus to requirements.

Returning to the Champions League via a top-four finish in the Premier League will be Emery's main target, yet knocking one of City, Manchester United, Liverpool or Tottenham from those positions, and also overtaking Chelsea, is a tough proposition.

Arsenal take on City without injured defensive duo Laurent Koscielny and Sead Kolasinac, while Aaron Ramsey will be hoping to be fit to take his place in midfield.

Koscielny, now out with an ankle injury, captained the side in place of Per Mertesacker last season.

The signings of Stephan Lichtsteiner, Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Lucas Torreira have created some optimism within the club, but the off-the-pitch antics with Stan Kroenke might cause some disruption.

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"I met the Kroenke family in Atlanta and he gave us his commitment in this project with Arsenal", added Emery. "Confidence in our work, confidence in himself", Emery said. Also, I think that Guardiola's coaching is clear on this team. "You need building all the time".

"Emery has had longer with his team than anyone else - they've largely all been together for the whole of pre-season - and they could potentially cause an upset against City on day one".

Arsenal's opening game of the season will be against reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday, August 12, before facing rivals Chelsea six days later. "For me, that is very important".

"It's 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". "But we want to play with the idea to create a winning mentality".

"But I like to play more against him because it's demanding for your preparation to try to win against his teams".