Arsenal lost 3-1 to Manchester City on Sunday. Read on for Unai Emery’s response to questions from the Gazette’s Gunners reporter Layth Yousif during the post-match press conference at the Etihad.

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has insisted there are reasons for optimism despite losing 3-1 to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday.

A hat-trick from Sergio Aguero sealed the victory which saw City close the gap on league leaders Liverpool to just two points.

Despite captain Laurent Koscielny equalising after 11 minutes through a header after a Nacho Monreal flick-on in a crowded box, the home side were simply too good for the North Londoners – who failed to muster a shot in the second half.

In response to questioning from the Gazette after the match Emery still believes there is much to be positive about from his side.

He said: “There are good things [happening] with our players. We have players with a good ‘pressing’ future. We need time. We need experience.

“We need to take [experience] from matches like today where we lost and we struggled but I think we can be optimistic.”

The loss sees Arsenal remain in sixth place on 47 points, two spots off the coveted fourth and final Champions League position – with Chelsea on 50 points and Manchester United a point ahead in fifth place.

The Gunners have a free week before they travel to Huddersfield on Saturday to take on Jan Siewert’s Terriers in a must-win game.

He added: “We need to be calm. Last week we were [near] with Chelsea and Manchester United to fight for the position in the top four. But today we lost and we are behind them.

“The difference between [Arsenal] and Liverpool and Manchester City is big. Tottenham also [because] they are keeping a lot of regularity in matches [and] they take a lot of points.

“Our situation now is we need to think game by game and to be consistent. There are 38 matches. Today we lost but it’s normal because they showed their superiority.

“We need to continue working. The next match for us is Huddersfield and it is important. This is the [type] of match when we can [aim] top win. It will be difficult and we need time also but we must self-demanding.”

When pressed if he thought the Gunners had a weak mentality away from home given they lost 5-1 to Liverpool at Anfield in the final match of 2018 as well as losing to Chelsea and failing to hold onto two leads against Manchester United in early December at Old Trafford Emery responded.

He said: “Our mentality is the same. Whether you are at home or away from home. When you are on the pitch and you are playing a better team the players feel that.

“We need, little by little to be stronger. We need to feel stronger with and without the ball, together.

“The confidence is coming and the mentality is coming. We have the mentality but also when we are worse than the opposition we feel negative on the pitch.”

Follow Arsenal reporter Layth on Twitter @laythy29