LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal manager Unai Emery says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made Manchester United a much more dangerous team since taking over from Jose Mourinho.
Emery's side host United in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday and the Spaniard expects a stern test from Solskjaer's revitalised team.
Arsenal drew 2-2 with United at Old Trafford in the Premier League last month, shortly before Mourinho was sacked as manager after a wretched run of results.
Since then, Solskjaer, hired from Molde as interim boss, has overseen seven successive wins in all competitions.
Solskjaer's approach has won over a United squad that grew tired of Mourinho's spikey personality, and Emery is suitably impressed.
"It's a different team. It's the same players but they're playing with a big performance now," Emery told reporters on Wednesday (Jan 23).
"I was watching their last matches and each player has a lot of confidence, with big performances, and now they are very dangerous.
"For us, it's good because it's a very big test for us in this competition."
Arsenal's preparation for the United clash included a team-building paintball trip, but it has been a difficult few days for the club.
It was announced on Monday that head of recruitment Sven Mislintat will leave next month having only been at Arsenal for a little over a year.
A day later, Gunners right-back Hector Bellerin learned he could miss up to nine months after suffering ruptured knee ligaments in the 2-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday.
Emery was asked about both issues and believes Arsenal should take their time in appointing a successor to Mislintat, with Roma's director of football Monchi linked to a similar role in north London.
Asked if it was important to swiftly find a replacement for Mislintat, Emery replied: "Maybe if you do this recruitment very quickly, maybe you can make a mistake.
"I think it's better to do without that, being calm and also finding the best possible person to do this job like we want.
"I think the club is working on that. It's not my issue. I can say the same: if the club decided to sign one sporting director, then I will agree with them."
Bellerin will undergo surgery and could miss the start of next season given the severity of the damage to his knee.
"We were sad and we are sad now after his injury," Emery added.
"I think this year is very difficult for big injuries like Hector, Rob Holding and (Danny) Welbeck. But football is like that.
"We need to treat these injuries like a normality in football, but we are very sad for that."
Valencia eased into the semi-finals of the Europa League for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spanish side Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday for a
Valencia stroll into Europa semis with Villarreal win | New
Football pundit Paul Merson has expressed fears that Man United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might be having his last game as the Red Devils boss this weekend. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer only took over as Man United boss in December last year after former manager Jose Mourinho was sacked and he started on a high note […]
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's toughest test as Manchester United
Welcome Messages for Websites. Websites regularly witnesses many new users and people who register for their account online in these websites. As such, the websites send welcome messages to the users once they make their registration and their account get activated. "Welcome to the wonderful world of xyz.com.
Welcome Quotes - BrainyQuote
Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on his Liverpool outfit after they delivered what he claimed to be their 'best game of the season' in a 2-1 win over Tottenham at Wembley on Saturday. The Anfield
Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first clean sheet
Morata double earns Spain scrappy win (1:05) Spain produced a second lacklustre performance in the space of four days in an unimpressive 0-2 win in Malta.
Euro2020: Morata's Brace Lift Spain Above Malta - Red Cheetah
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 3-2 with two goals from Robert Lewandowski on Wednesday to advance to the German Cup final for the second straight year and keep the domestic
Bayern reach German Cup final to keep double in sight
The girlfriend of Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich has dramatically apologised after being accused of racism by posing in a chair that resembled a bound and semi-naked black woman. Art expert and
Outrage over 'black woman chair' - news.com.au
Spurs blasted for lacking hunger, mental strength, Football
Chelsea Not In Premier League Title Race, Says Sarri. during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The London Stadium, in east London on September 23
Chelsea not in Premier League title race, says Sarri
Zinedine Zidane will make a shock return as coach of Real Madrid after the club decided on Monday to sack Santiago Solari, say reports in the Spanish press. Madrid president Florentino Perez has
Zidane set for shock Madrid return | The Guardian Nigeria
Singapore's Akbar is best coach in I-League, Football News
Ikhsan Fandi becomes the first Lion to play in Europe in 30 years, after signing deal with Norway's second tier side, Raufoss IL Ikhsan Fandi will be the first Singaporean footballer to ply his
Ikhsan Fandi scores 1st goal for Norwegian club Raufoss with
Ruben Neves stunner from 25-yards hands Jurgen Klopp's side an early FA Cup exit. Reds' hopes of a treble are over after the Portuguese ace unleashed a trademark strike from distance.
Why Jurgen Klopp has no option but to risk another early FA
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen