The pair will go head to head twice in December after being drawn against them in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
They meet in the Premier League on December 2 before the cup match on December 17.
But the managers could be set for an unusual bromance with Pochettino admitting he ‘loves’ the Arsenal boss.
“It will be an exciting game, I’m excited face to Arsenal,” Pochettino said after the Carabao Cup draw.
CHAOS IN THE STANDS: DID YOU SEE SHOCKING SCENES AT LONDON STADIUM?
“Unai Emery is good friend and a top manager and doing a great job.
“In our history Arsenal are a great rival – but I love Unai and have great respect for him.”
That may not sit well with Tottenham fans who are already frustrated with the way the season is going.
The stadium issues have exacerbated the support and Pochettino himself admitted he wasn’t feeling good about the campaign last week.
“The season so far, it’s strange because my feeling is the worst I’ve had in the five years that I’ve been here,” he said last week.
“But it’s the best start ever for the club in the Premier League. It’s strange, no?
“It’s so difficult to explain because many things happen, I am disappointed we are still waiting for the new stadium when the expectation was to be there at the beginning of the season.
“I know I always have a good relationship with the media but my feeling is not the best feeling, I had a better feeling in previous seasons.”
Last night’s win over Tottenham in the Carabao Cup has eased the strain somewhat and they face Wolves on Saturday night.
Son Heung-min marked his 150th appearance for Spurs with his first two goals of the season to set up a 3-1 victory.
Lucas Perez briefly halved the deficit but Fernando Llorente, handed a rare run-out with Harry Kane rested, wrapped up victory for Spurs.
The visitors had, of course, been in action just 48 hours earlier against Manchester City on a dreadful Wembley pitch, so Pochettino made 10 changes to his line-up with Davinson Sanchez the only survivor.
The Spurs boss said: “I feel very happy, to play two competitive games in 48 hours, Manchester City and then a London derby, I feel very proud.
“The performance was very good, always we try to play better but for different circumstances we have to be happy.
“Some players are working so hard, trying to wait for their opportunity, and then Davinson Sanchez played two games in 48 hours – and he was fantastic. I can’t praise him enough.”
Son Heung-min was relieved to finally end his goal drought after firing Tottenham into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
“Winning in the derby against West Ham always feels very good,” Son told Spurs TV.
“The most important thing is that we won. We’re in the next round and, finally, I scored!
“It’s been a long time, I’ve been feeling really sorry. It feels really, really good to score again for this team. Finally I’m back to scoring.
“Of course I’ve got a little bit of confidence back. It’s been a long time to score again because I went away for a long time so I felt very sorry but finally I can score for this team and help this team.
“I don’t want to pressure myself but I’m always hungry and want to improve every day.
“If I don’t score I’m sad. Of course winning is important but I always want to score and do my best for this team.”
Carabao Cup draw latest
Arsenal and Tottenham will go head-to-head in a festive north London derby in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
The Gunners and Spurs have been paired together after their respective fourth-round wins over Blackpool and West Ham.
They will meet at the Emirates in the week commencing December 17, just over two weeks after their Premier League battle at the same venue.
It will be a tie that both sides might have been keen to avoid as they both aim to get their hands on silverware.
Unai Emery is looking to get his Gunners tenure off to the best possible start while Mauricio Pochettino is still waiting for his first trophy at Spurs.
The two rivals last met in this competition in 2015, when Arsenal ran out 2-1 winners.
Chelsea’s reward for seeing off Derby, managed by one of their most decorated players Frank Lampard, is a home tie with Bournemouth.
Middlesbrough beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday and were handed a home game with League One Burton and a significant chance of progressing to the semi-final.
Reigning champions Manchester City play Fulham on Thursday and the winner will face either Leicester or Southampton.
That game was due to be played on Tuesday, but was postponed following the tragic death of Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha on Saturday.
