Arsenal sack Unai Emery
A loss against Eintracht in the Europa League was the final straw for the Premier League club who had gone seven games without winning. Freddie Ljungberg takes over.
Unai Emery has been removed from his position as manager at Arsenal, the club announced on Friday morning.
Gunners fire Emery
The Europa League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday appears to have been the final straw for the Premier League club, making it seven consecutive games without a win.
Emery took over the prestigious role on the 3 May 2018, replacing long-term manager Arsene Wenger but has lasted only 555 days at the Emirates Stadium, 7,339 less than his predecessor who started in 1996.
The club statement read:
"Speaking on behalf of the Arsenal board and our owners Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Josh Kroenke said: “Our most sincere thanks go to Unai and his colleagues who were unrelenting in their efforts to get the club back to competing at the level we all expect and demand. We wish Unai and his team nothing but future success.”
The decision has been taken due to results and performances not being at the level required.
We have asked Freddie Ljungberg to take responsibility for the first team as interim head coach. We have full confidence in Freddie to take us forward.
The search for a new head coach is underway and we will make a further announcement when that process is complete."
Freddie Ljungberg, club legend and who was assistant to Emery, will take over the running of the first team in the meantime. Norwich City await this weekend in the Premier League as they look to lift themselves closer to the top four. Currently the Gunners sit in eighth place on 18 points, just one off Wolves in fifth, but eight points off Chelsea in the final Champions League spot.