Emery won’t change Arsenal’s passing style against Chelsea

Unai Emery has promised he will not change his style even though he admits Chelsea will be another huge test for his Arsenal revolution.

Gunners boss Emery began his new reign with a defeat to Manchester City, tough criticism of Petr Cech playing out from the back and his tactical set-up.

But Emery insisted the champions did not beat them for any of those reasons and, despite fearing a difficult game at Stamford Bridge, he will stick to his principles.

Emery said: “We didn’t lose because of our personality, our idea, our style. We lost on other things, we can improve on other things, tactics, improve for our learning on the next match.

“But also, we are building our style because we think it’s the best way, to have the control on each match, to find the best way to win.

“The personality is very important, we are working every day to build our ideal and I don’t want to change that.

“But it’s clear that each match is different, each position changes against us, our idea changes against us, against them.

“I think 70 per cent (of the game plan) is thinking for us, and 30 per cent for the opposition. And maybe, Man City demand more for us because they are a very special team.

“Saturday against Chelsea also, they are a different team in the last year. They have similar things tactically like a Manchester City and, for that, on Saturday our demand is very high.”

Emery also backed Cech to carry on in goal despite the 36-year-old being asked to become a sweeper keeper.

Emery added: “It is one option in football. Football is very challenging. Goalkeepers can play like a player, to start short with the centre-back or the right or left-back.

“Maybe if the opposition is doing high pressing against us, then we need also to find another option and to play the ball long in the second action. We are training for each situation.

“I am very happy with his performance. He has experience, he has quality, he has the capacity. Also, with Bernd Leno [it’s the same].

“They are two goalkeepers who are important for us. They have different qualities but for us in the way we want to play, they can [both] play.

“For Saturday, the decision for me is easy. Petr Cech can continue to start the match, I believe in him. [But] If Bernd starts, I believe in him also.”