Emery’s side host United in the FA Cup fourth round today 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 in the run up to the match.
“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.
Chelsea unveiled Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain on loan from Juventus until the end of the season as boss Maurizio Sarri looks to ignite his spluttering attack. Higuain will be reunited with Sarri, who managed the 31-yearold at Napoli and made him his top target in the January window. After spending the first half of the season in a disappointing loan spell at AC Milan, Higuain admitted he was keen to move to Stamford Bridge.