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Football fans have short memories. That’s not necessarily a criticism, given that the vast majority of clubs end seasons with relative disappointment, and looking to the future is a more pleasant and positive exercise, even if only to maintain sanity during the summer months.

So to jump on the new manager – a first for over two decades – 90 minutes after losing to the champions, no less – probably crosses the line of worry and into the realms of stupidity.

What was laid bare before our eyes on Sunday afternoon was the absolute mess that had been left in Unai Emery’s wake. The result of a reckless and incoherent recruitment policy, coupled with a team used to a failed system only brought about because of poor results is a squad seeking an identity, a new direction and newfound belief.

This, as Jose Mourinho might say, is "FOOTBALL HERITAGE" (by the way, the word you’re looking for is inheritance, mate. You sound like a plum saying it over and over again, but hey, let’s turn it into a 12-minute rant).

Emery has inherited a mess from Arsene Wenger akin to the one left to David Moyes by Sir Alex Ferguson. This time around, the demise of Manchester United’s ageing champions is encapsulated by Arsenal’s sense of shellshock following Wenger’s departure, while United’s lack of depth is mirrored by The Gunners’ complete loss of self-belief and ability.

The team looked lost at times against Manchester City as they tried to get to grips with Emeryball. Passing out from the back is a risk at the best of times but against this City side, it’s almost a suicide mission.

Perhaps that made the match a free hit with City up first in a game we may not even have been expected to win when in top gear, but there’s a difference between not going long from goal kicks and being pressed on your own byline, hence the sarcastic cheers when common sense eventually prevailed amongst the Arsenal defence.

A lot of what went wrong on Sunday will not concern Emery in the long run. The players will get used to his style – even if it ends up taking a year, only once his ideas and philosophies have been imprinted by the players on the pitch should we judge him. And that will come in time.

What will worry him is the sheer amount of work he has to do. There are a lot of rough edges that need to be smoothed out, so he will literally have to be the emery board for this team (I’ll grab my coat).

This is a squad that hasn’t played at the elite level of European football in two years. This team have not won league games consistently since the second half of 2016 – with only ONE away win in 2018 – Wenger’s final game. This squad hasn’t had a serious go at the title since 2015/16 – although the run-in was so bad back then, that probably doesn’t even count.

Expecting Emery to turn us into champions is one thing, but finding the solution within three months is a failing pipe dream.

It’s not just the playing element that he has to sort out and/or contend with. There is still chaos at board level as uncertainty reigns over Ivan Gazidis’ future and Stan Kroenke’s toxic takeover isn’t exactly going to make the fans happy.

The notion that Arsene Wenger was the primary cause of fans’ lack of support was brutally shot down as they emptied their seats with plenty of time remaining on Sunday, meaning the new manager’s calls in the programme to stick together fell on deaf ears attached to fickle minds.

New appointments generally point to problems at hand that need to be rectified and Emery’s arrival at Arsenal is a prime example. Before results turn for the better, the foundations, standards and new concepts need to be set. This takes time. Let’s hope Emery gets it.

Come On You Reds!