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Arsenal sack coach Unai Emery after 18 months
Arsenal has announced the sacking of head coach Unai Emery after succeeding Arsene Wenger 18 months ago at the north London club.
The Spaniard, who previously led Paris St-Germain to the French league title and won three Europa Leagues with Sevilla, was appointed Gunners boss in May 2018.
The Gunners have not won in seven games and lost 2-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday.
They are without a Premier League victory since 6 October and eight points off the top four.
A statement on the club’s website read: “We announce today that the decision has been taken to part company with our head coach Unai Emery and his coaching team.
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.
Unai Emery’s time at Arsenal
They finished fifth in 48-year-old Emery’s first season in charge at Emirates Stadium after he replaced Wenger.
The Gunners started this season with back-to-back victories against Newcastle and Burnley, but that run ended with defeat by Liverpool, before draws with north London rivals Tottenham and Watford followed.
Their last Premier League victory was a 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
On Saturday, they battled to a 2-2 draw – their sixth of the season – at home to Southampton, with Alexandre Lacazette scoring an injury-time equaliser.
Emery is the third managerial dismissal in the English top flight this season, after Javi Gracia and Mauricio Pochettino departed Watford and Tottenham respectively.
Arsenal’s last victory came against Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League on 24 October, in which they needed two late Nicolas Pepe free-kicks to secure a 3-2 win.
