We can probably hazard a rather educated guess regarding how Tottenham Hotspur supporters feel about the departure of Jose Mourinho.
Relieved, probably.
But how should Daniel Levy’s decision be received a few miles down the road at Arsenal?
On one hand, Gunners supporters would be forgiven for engaging in a bit of schadenfreude as Arsene Wenger’s old sparring partner packs his bags and heads for the exit, without even a Carabao Cup trophy to keep him warm at night.
On the other, there may be a nagging underlying fear that, if Tottenham get their next appointment right and bring in a Julian Nagelsmann or a Brendan Rodgers, an eternally-inconsistent Arsenal side will once again get left behind by their North London neighbours.
In the meantime, the future of an £18 million Brazil international represents a rather intriguing subplot in the Mourinho saga.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss instructed Tottenham to sign Barcelona’s Emerson Royal this summer.
Mourinho is a long-time admirer of the Real Betis loanee, having tried and failed to sign the buccaneering right-back in 2020 too.
But with Mourinho now a thing of the past at Spurs, any hopes Tottenham fans might have had of seeing Emerson replace the divisive Serge Aurier appear to have gone with him.
And that may have just opened the door for their local rivals.
Mundo Deportivo also reported, in March, that Arsenal have shown an interest in Emerson amid doubts over the long-term future of Hector Bellerin.
This will go under the radar during a week full of recriminations, of dramatic headlines, but Mourinho’s sudden sacking might just result in one of Europe’s most promising right-backs ending up at Arsenal rather than Tottenham.
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