Unbeaten in last 13 games in all competitions, Gunners host Liverpool in Premier League clash
Handed an unforgiving start as Arsenal's first new manager for nearly a quarter of a century, Unai Emery has quickly put defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea behind him with a 13-game unbeaten run to earn the respect of the Gunners' support.
However, the real test of how far Emery's Arsenal have evolved since being outclassed by City on the opening weekend of the season comes when Liverpool travel to the Emirates on Saturday.
Arsenal have won 12 of those 13 games unbeaten, the only slip coming at Crystal Palace last weekend when they conceded two penalties in a 2-2 draw.
Yet, they haven't faced any of the Premier League's top six from last season in that run, with defeats of Watford and Everton their only victories over sides in the top half of the table.
Emery still seems to be searching for the right balance, while also getting two star centre-forwards in Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang into the side.
Lacazette and Aubameyang have already combined for 14 goals between them this season and their firepower has so far got Arsenal out of trouble, particularly late in games with Emery's men yet to enjoy a half-time lead in the Premier League.
It is to Emery's credit that his changes have often impacted the game positively for his side, and that Arsenal only trail league leaders City and Liverpool by four points heading into this weekend.
The priority for Arsenal this season remains a top four finish and a return to the Champions League rather than a title challenge, and Emery is well on course for that goal
.‘Emery is a top manager’
Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp says Arsenal boss Unai Emery has proved himself as a top manager as the two coaches prepare to go head to head for the first time since the 2016 Europa League final.
Emery, then in charge at Sevilla, got the better of Klopp in the final in Basel, with his side coming from behind to win 3-1, and subsequently won the French league title with Paris Saint-Germain.
Klopp believes Emery has won enough in his career —three successive Europa League titles and five major trophies at PSG — to warrant the respect his current 13-match unbeaten run deserves.
"All people in football knew how good he is but I am not sure all Arsenal fans were over the moon at first when they heard it would be Emery," said Klopp.
"But that's England a little bit, you want the poster boys. Unai was in France and before that in Spain in a smaller club, so you can go a bit under the radar.
Klopp's record against Arsenal since arriving in England is impressive. He has never lost against the Gunners, with three wins and two draws from five matches.
The fixture has a history of high scores, with the past nine Premier League matches bringing 42 goals.
"It doesn't look like that will change. They score a lot of goals and are really good offensively," said Klopp.
"We have to see how this game will develop. With two very offensive-orientated teams it can often happen. It doesn't have to — we saw in the Manchester City game (a goalless draw) that, but it is possible at least."
Klopp will still be without midfielders Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita, who are not likely to be in contention for a recall until next weekend.