Gunners sack Emery

Arsenal have sacked Unai Emery after 18 months at the Emirates.

A statement from the club said the decision to sack the 48-year-old had been "taken due to results and performances not being at the level required".

"The search for a new head coach is under way and we will make a further announcement when that process is complete," the statement continued.

In the meantime, former midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who was appointed Emery’s assistant during the close season, has been placed in temporary charge. 

There had been plenty of speculation around the Spaniard’s future over the past couple of weeks as the club’s on-field performances continued to disappoint.

Despite spending more than £130m bringing in new players during the summer, the Gunners are without a league win since October 6th and, following last night’s 2-1 Europa League reverse to Eintracht Frankfurt at a half-empty Emirates Stadium, are now on their longest run without a victory since 1992.

Emery, who led Sevilla to a hat-trick of Europa League titles and won the French league with PSG, succeeded Arsene Wenger in May 2018.

The Arsenal Supporters' Trust (AST) said Emery's dismissal was "unfortunate but inevitable" and the "more difficult challenge is to recruit a suitable successor".

"The AST has long been advocating that the most important changes needed at Arsenal are in the boardroom where Arsenal need better governance," a statement from the AST said.

Among the names linked with the vacant post, one of the most prestigious in the English game, are Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, former Arsenal player and current Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta, ex-Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

Emery is the third Premier League manager to lose his job this season following Javi Gracia and Pochettino’s departure from Watford and Tottenham respectively.

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