Arsenal boss Unai Emery comments on Alexis Sanchez’ return to the Emirates after one year

Alexis Sanchez will return to the Emirates for the first time on Friday night since he left Arsenal last year for Manchester United. The Chile international was signed by Arsene Wenger from Barcelona in a £35 million deal in 2014 and spent three and a half years with Arsenal. Last year in January Sanchez moved to Manchester United in a swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Friday’s match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium will be his first one since joining Red Devils. Ahead of Friday's match Unai Emery has commented on Alexis Sanchez facing Arsenal and admitted that he was watching him still at PSG. “I think he is a very good player and when I was at PSG we thought about him to help us,” said Emery. “We spoke about a lot of important players. One was the possibility about Alexis, but it wasn’t possible [in the end]. It was just circumstance.” Emery, however, says he is far more concerned about finding a way to stop the Chile captain than worrying about how he will be welcomed back by the Emirates crowd “I respect him and I prepare to play against the best players from Manchester United and one is Alexis Sanchez,” said the Spaniard. “He has been on the bench after injury, but I think if he will play on Friday we will need to stop him because he is a very good player, “And now, this [Manchester United] team is different. I don’t know why, but they are playing with more confidence.”

Gonzalo Higuain mocked by AC Milan players after his move to Chelsea