Football news - Arsenal manager Unai Emery not surprised by Jose Mourinho sack at Man United

United sacked Mourinho in December after a 3-1 defeat to league leaders Liverpool left the club 19 points behind Juergen Klopp's side and 11 points off a Champions League spot.

Emery, whose side host United in a fourth round FA Cup tie on Friday, said it was "normal" for a manager's job to be on the line when the team was not performing to their potential. Emery told reporters:

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed in a caretaker role after Mourinho was sacked and he has overseen a remarkable turnaround to win six successive league games and go level with fifth-placed Arsenal on 44 points, behind only on goal difference.

"Now, they are very dangerous and in a good moment," Emery added. "I don't know why but this team is different and they are playing with more confidence."

Meanwhile, Emery has revealed he was keen to take Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal to Paris St Germain last winter.

The Chile forward prepares to return to the Emirates Stadium for the first time on Friday night after he ended up leaving the Gunners to join Manchester United. Sanchez, who moved in an exchange deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford since signing a big-money contract a year ago.

He has scored just four goals over the course of a difficult first 12 months, while a number of niggling injuries have hindered his progress.

He is back in contention to feature against his former club in the FA Cup fourth round after overcoming a hamstring issue and it could be his first appearance at Arsenal since his departure, with head coach Emery revealing he had been keen on landing Sanchez when manager of PSG.

Asked if he tried to sign the former Barcelona forward, the Spaniard replied: "Yes. He is a very good player and, when I was at PSG, we thought he could help him. We spoke about a lot of players, about a lot of important players, and one was the possibility of Alexis. But it was not possible.”