MX23RW : Thursday, November 7 12:04:59| >> :600:337941:337941:

Arsenal deny Jose Mourinho talks amid Unai Emery speculation

Arsenal deny Jose Mourinho talks amid Unai Emery speculation
© Reuters
Mourinho has been linked with replacing under-pressure Gunners boss Unai Emery.

Arsenal have denied any meetings have taken place between head of football Raul Sanllehi and Jose Mourinho as pressure continues to mount on head coach Unai Emery.

A section of supporters have turned on the Spaniard following a run of two wins from their last nine Premier League games.

Emery came in for criticism after his side allowed a lead to slip for the third time in a week as they drew 1-1 with Wolves on Saturday.

Unai Emery has come under pressure at Arsenal
Unai Emery has come under pressure at Arsenal (Nigel French/PA)

Raul Jimenez's header earned Wolves a point at the Emirates Stadium after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's 50th Arsenal goal had put Emery's side in charge.

Emery's decision to substitute defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira with winger Bukayo Saka just three minutes before Jimenez scored completely altered the mood inside the stadium.

With continued scrutiny of Emery's results and tactics, speculation over who could replace him if Arsenal wield the axe has led to former Chelsea and Manchester United boss Mourinho being linked to the post.

Jose Mourinho has been out of work since leaving Manchester United in December
Jose Mourinho has been out of work since leaving Manchester United in December (Martin Rickett/PA)

The Portuguese was in attendance for Arsenal's 3-2 Europa League win over Vitoria last week and reports claim he is keen for another managerial job in England.

There was fresh speculation on Sunday morning that Sanllehi had met Mourinho for dinner, fuelling the fire over a potential move for the 56-year-old.

However, sources at Arsenal told the PA news agency that such a meeting did not take place and the pair have not had a conversation for years.

Emery opted to leave Granit Xhaka out of squad on Saturday after he swore at supporters who jeered him when he was substituted during the draw with Crystal Palace last week.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored on his first match as captain
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored on his first match as captain (Paul Harding/PA)

While it remains to be seen if Xhaka will retain the armband, vice-captain Aubameyang filled the role well against Wolves – getting on the scoresheet as he led the side out for the first time – and Emery suggested he could be a long-term option.

"He could be," he replied when asked if Aubameyang could remain captain beyond the one game.

"I think he can take that responsibility and today he did that. He is one captain and I think he can take that responsibility. We will analyse the match first, and our situation for the next matches and decide."

Wolves may have battled back to earn a deserved draw at the weekend – but it was not enough for midfielder Ruben Neves, who felt the visitors should have left north London with all three points.

Raul Jimenez celebrates Wolves' equaliser
Raul Jimenez celebrates Wolves' equaliser (Paul Harding/PA)

"We go out of with a feeling that we should win the game, to be honest," he told the club's official website.

"To create a lot of chances against a team like Arsenal is really difficult, and we did it, but to make the next step we have to score.

"We should have won that game, I think we deserved it, but you have to keep on working to do this step forward and start winning these kinds of games.

"When we play well and when we have these kinds of chances, we must win it, and if one team deserved the win today it was our team."

body check tags ::

Jose Mourinho future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Jose Mourinho

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:
Instagram - Follow Sports Mole
Alex Grimaldo in action for Benfica in December 2018
Read Next:
Sunday's Arsenal transfer talk: Grimaldo, Soares, Demiral
>

Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1110102591631
2Manchester CityMan City1181234102425
3Leicester CityLeicester117222781923
4Chelsea117222517823
5Arsenal114521615117
6Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd11443128416
7Bournemouth114431413116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton114341414015
9Crystal Palace114341014-415
10Manchester UnitedMan Utd113441311213
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs113441716113
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves112721414013
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham113441417-313
14Burnley113351418-412
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle11335917-812
16Aston Villa113261618-211
17Everton113261117-611
18Southampton112271027-178
19Norwich CityNorwich112181126-157
20Watford11056623-175

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!