Report: Senior Arsenal figures wanted Jose Mourinho to replace Unai Emery

Senior figures at Arsenal apparently wanted Jose Mourinho to replace Unai Emery before he took the Tottenham Hotspur job.

Sky Sports News have been informed by sources that Gunners chiefs were contemplating wielding the axe on the Spaniard, and considered replacing him with the Special One ‘a couple of weeks ago’.

Arsenal seemingly persisted in the hope Emery could turn things around.

In the meantime, Spurs announced the shock departure of Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday 18 November and moved rapidly to replace him with the unattached Mourinho.

Mourinho was in place at Spurs the morning after the Argentine’s exit, and has already recorded two wins in his first two matches.

TBR’s view – Has Arsenal’s dithering has cost them their top target?

It’s fair to say the majority of fans are relieved Emery has gone, but some will argue it should have happened a lot sooner.

Perhaps the Arsenal board will wish they’d have acted sooner if they really did want Mourinho to succeed Emery.

Time will tell if they will be made to pay for missing the boat over the Portuguese. It certainly would have been a divisive appointment.

Right now though, Arsenal fans will simply be delighted for change after growing so tired of life at their club under Emery.

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