Unai Emery hails Pep Guardiola's Manchester City ahead of his first Arsenal Premier League match against the Champions

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has hailed Pep Guardiola's achievements in the game as he prepares for a baptism of fire against Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.

The Spanish coach takes charge of the Gunners in the English top-flight for the first time and assignments don't come a lot tougher than against a City side that won the league by 19 points last season.

Emery faced Guardiola's Barcelona team 10 times when manager of Valencia and failed to win any of their encounters, losing six and drawing four, but insists his side can overcome City.

It is easier to speak here than to do it on the pitch,' Emery said.

'After two years with Guardiola, they have today more stability and security. When you watch their matches, they play with great confidence in themselves and also I think Guardiola's coaching is clear in this team.

'It is for that we are working this week, preparing this game and preparing the opposition. Above all, it is about confidence in ourselves to do the best match on Sunday.

'I am 46, he is 47. He started his career as a bigger player than me. His career as a coach is bigger than me.

We started at the same moment as coaches. His statistics are better than me. I like playing him because the preparation is demanding, to try and beat his teams and when we were in Spain, every match against Barcelona for Valencia and Sevilla was very exciting.

'Sunday is the same. We have a lot of ambition. I want to show and give our players ambition.'

Emery, speaking at his pre-match press conference, added that Arsenal will now offload only three more players following the close of the British transfer window, with Danny Welbeck likely to remain.

Emery said: 'Carl Jenkinson, Joel Campbell and David Ospina have possibilities to leave. Tomorrow we train at the Emirates Stadium with all the rest of the squad.'

The manager also insisted that Stan Kroenke's full buyout of the club should be deemed a positive thing. The Arsenal Supporters' Trust insist they are 'wholly against the takeover'.

Emery added: 'I knew the Kroenke family in Atlanta. He gave us his commitment to this project. For me this news is positive. His commitment to Arsenal is most important.'

Dailymail