We are now already five games into the 2018/19 Premier League season which means people have already started to discuss which teams have made the strongest starts and which sides could have a long and arduous 8-months ahead. 

One of the biggest talking points will be whether new Arsenal manager Unai Emery has managed to hit the ground running at the Emirates after taking over from his stalwart predecessor Arsene Wenger. 

The Spaniard has managed to veer his opening foray into English to a more positive tone after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Newcastle made it three wins on the spin for the Gunners. 

It's interesting to see how Emery's start at the club compares to Wenger's and whether this very early stage of the season could already indicate where the club could be heading under their new leader. 

Here is a rundown of the first five Premier League games for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger. 

Arsene Wenger was a complete unknown when he first walked into the marble halls of Highbury in September 1996. Arsenal were now considered a cup side after failing to win the league title since George Graham's triumph in the 1990-91 season. 

The Gunners still possessed the best drilled back five in the country and were still big players when it came to Europe after winning the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup in 1994 and just falling short a year later in the final. 

What the side really needed was to enhance their chances of catching Sir Alex Ferguson's all conquering Manchester United side who had won three of the first four Premier League titles. 

Since Wenger joined Arsenal during the season, he had to make do with what he had. His first Premier League showdown saw him come up against 1994-95 Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers under the management of Ray Harford. 

It was a comfortable opening victory for Wenger as his side ran out  2-0 winners thanks to a brace from striker Ian Wright. The starting line-up was made completely from British players apart from future captain Patrick Vieira who made his competitive debut for the club. 

Wenger had mixed fortunes in his first two home games in charge of the club. His first bow at Highbury was a disappointing 0-0 draw with Coventry City, however a week later they easily dispatched Leeds United 3-0 after goals from Lee Dixon, Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright. 

The Frenchman's fourth game at the helm was a hard fought 2-2 away draw with Wimbledon. Paul Merson's goal put the Gunners 2-1 up before Marcus Gayle equalised for the Wombles.  

Rounding off the initial spell for Arsenal under Wenger was his first defeat at the hands of Manchester United. A 1-0 win for the Red Devils was achieved after an unfortunate own goal from Arsenal left back Nigel Winterburn. 

Stats Breakdown

Arsene Wenger

First five games

Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 0-0 Coventry City
Arsenal 3-0 Leeds United
Wimbledon 2-2 Arsenal
Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal

Wins - 2
Draws - 2
Loses - 1
Goals Scored - 7
Goals Conceded - 3

Unai Emery

First five games

Arsenal 0-2 Manchester City
Chelsea 3-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 3-1 West Ham United
Cardiff City 2-3 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Wins - 3
Draws - 0
Losses - 2
Goals Scored - 10
Goals Conceded - 9

The verdict

There are pros and cons to both Wenger and Emery's starts at the club. In the case of the Frenchman, the club were clearly better set up defensively having only conceded three goals compared to the nine already inflicted under Emery. 

Arsenal have been slightly more free scoring under the Spaniard however, after registering three more goals than Wenger achieved at this stage.

Of course these implications can be largely attributed to the teams these managers had inherited. One one hand, Wenger had taken over a side that was branded boring and unimaginative when it came to attacking play. 

On the other hand, coherent attacking football played by Arsenal is definitely down to the philosophy that has been in place at the club during the entirety of Wenger's 22-years with the side. 

Unless Emery can address the defensive frailties that have already hindered his short reign at the club, he is all but certainly going to fall short of the impressive opening few seasons under Wenger which saw a league and cup double clinched in only his second campaign.