Graham Potter’s arrival as head coach at West Ham has received an emphatic thumbs-up from Aston Villa counterpart Unai Emery.

Potter was appointed by the Hammers on a two-and-a-half-year contract this morning and will have his first game in charge tomorrow night when West Ham visit Villa in the third round of the FA Cup.

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His arrival adds an element of intrigue to the all-Premier League tie which pits eighth-placed Villa against a 14th-placed West Ham side.

Emery expects former Brighton and Chelsea boss Potter to improve the London club’s fortunes.

He said: “West Ham have got a lot of good players, they’re a good club too. It’s not good news when they’re changing a coach but of course now is their chance and we’re going to respect West Ham and we’re going to respect Graham Potter because he was successful when he was coaching here in England. were I think it will work well.”

FA Cup woes for Emery

Villa have enjoyed great success under Emery but the FA Cup has provided some of the highlights.

In his first season in charge, his side were stunned by lower-league Stevenage, while last year, they lost a fourth-round replay at home to Chelsea.

Asked if he found it disappointing, the Spaniard added: “It depends, because there were circumstances in the moment. We didn’t get anything in the FA Cup, but it was a process. Didn’t really think it was a depression. It’s frustrating when you’re losing, but of course, that’s football.

“We are starting this year with the circumstances we have, and tomorrow is to try to be competitive and try to do better than the last two years, trying to get through this competition, an option for the trophy and a option. For Europe.”

Villa will be without skipper John McGuinn tomorrow night as the Scotland international is still struggling with the hamstring injury he picked up against Leicester at the weekend.