Unai Emery has warned Manchester United are “dangerous” and a completely different team under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Arsenal drew 2-2 at Old Trafford last month in what turned out to be one of Jose Mourinho’s final matches in charge before he was replaced by former United striker Solskjaer on an interim basis until the end of the season.
The two sides meet again on Friday night for an FA Cup fourth round clash with United on a seven-match winning streak since making the change.
And Emery believes Arsenal face a much trickier proposition at Emirates Stadium as they look to build on last weekend’s impressive Premier League home win against Chelsea.
“It’s a different team,” he said. “It’s the same players but they’re playing with a big performance now. 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. Manchester United and us have played 20 finals in the FA Cup, and we’ve won 13 and they’ve won 12. For this competition, it’s the best match to play.
“We are looking forward to playing this match on Friday because it’s at our stadium, the Emirates, in front of our supporters. We feel very well in front of them and we want to create a new atmosphere over 90 minutes on Friday, together with our supporters.”
Arsenal suffered a fresh injury setback this week when it was confirmed Hector Bellerin will be sidelined for six-to-nine months after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in his left knee against Chelsea.
Bellerin joins Rob Holding (knee) and Danny Welbeck (ankle) as long-term absentees and Emery added: “We were sad and we are sad now after his [Bellerin’s] injury. I think this year is very difficult for big injuries like Hector, Rob Holding and Welbeck. But football is like that. We need to treat these injuries like a normality in football, but we are very sad for that.
“Hector Bellerin is very mature and I think he received this injury like a football professional can take and he is already preparing to come back stronger than before.”
Emery also offered an update on Arsenal efforts to bolster their squad in January, with Denis Suarez of Barcelona a loan target amid tight financial constraints.
“The club continues to work on transfers," he said. "It's difficult, you know, but I am working with our players and I think we need - and we can - sign some players to help after our injuries.
"But we can play with the players we have now and the same message is to you and every supporter, we only want to sign one or two players who can really help us with good performances. The club is working. They know our intentions, our possibilities for signing players that can help us, but they work and also with communication to us.”
