AXED Unai Emery is not the only man Arsenal fans were turning on – they have also blasted Raul Sanllehi as a “massive fraud”.
Pressure finally told on Spaniard Emery as he was sacked today after last night’s Europa League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt made it seven games without a win.
Arsenal fans were turning on chief Raul Sanllehi as well as axed boss Unai EmeryCredit: Getty
That’s Arsenal’s worst run for nearly 28 years, when George Graham oversaw an eight game winless run.
Despite the Emirates being half-empty for their latest failing, the full-time whistle was met with a huge chorus of boos and jeers.
And even before that, a number of “Emery Out” signs were held aloft by disgruntled supporters.
However, Arsenal’s head of football Sanllehi is also facing big questions after waiting so long over his fellow countryman’s future.
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And several supporters took to Twitter to vent their fury at the former Barcelona chief – some even labelling him a “joke” and “fraud”.
One wrote: “Always knew Raul Sanllehi was a fraud. When word got out that we had hired him, his name was linked to the most successful period in Barca’s history and it implied he had a huge role to play in that.
“Guy got plaudits as did everyone at the club.
“But, with all the success it was an era of growing and costly mistakes at the board level based in part by decisions being driven by Raul Sanllehi.”
A large section of the Gooners were delighted with Sanllehi after this summer transfer window brought in the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Dani Ceballos, David Luiz and Kieran Tierney.
Now they think they have seen straight through him – and his close associate Emery.
Another fan tweeted: “I had some sympathy for Emery, but deliberately trying to lose his job is disgraceful. Losing last night & not bringing on Pepe/Lacazette was a plead from Emery, sack me. Raul Sanllehi massive fraud. Typical Arsenal fans last summer though blowing smoke up his a***.”
While a fellow Arsenal supporter commented: “Genuinely if Emery is manager for the Norwich game then Raul Sanllehi should be sacked too.”
As another Gooner found himself going viral after tweeting: “The year is 2023. Arsenal are without a win in 4 years. Raul Sanllehi is still backing Unai Emery to turn it around given a little more time.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Martin Keown had also called for the club to wield axe after the “absolute shambles” against Frankfurt.
Speaking on BT Sport, the 53-year-old said: “We just witnessed an absolute shambles of a performance in that second half.
“The team selection, the team motivation, the substitutions, the performance – everything was missing here, it was a dreadful performance.
“I think you have to go back, the fans turned, many years ago, on Terry Neill, 37 years ago. I was at the football club when it happened. Things got very toxic within the club.
“I think we’re getting close to that again. Is he able to motivate this team? He seems to have lost the players. The direction of the team, the desire seems to have ebbed away.
“I could question players, [Granit] Xhaka stayed on the pitch, perhaps should’ve gone off, [Shkodran] Mustafi couldn’t get off quick enough.
“The substitutions that he made, the players that are sitting on the bench. You’ve got Pepe there, [Alexandre] Lacazette to come on, you’re trying to get back into the game. It’s not enough.”
He added: “I think maybe the manager is in a position where he might feel he has to step to one side now. Serious questions really need to be asked. This is as bad as I’ve seen it.
“I know change was needed. Wenger was at the football club just a little bit too long but now it looks as if the club have got to go in a different direction.
“This is relegation form. Do the club really realise how tricky this is now going to be?
“Decisions have got to be made.
“The football people at the top of the club, make the decisions that need to be made otherwise Arsenal are going to plunder further down the trouble.”
Eighth-placed Arsenal travel to Norwich City this weekend without an away win since September 19.
They are already eight points off the top four and need at least a point in their final Europa League group match in Standard Liege next month to reach the knockout stage.
Arsenal sack Unai Emery – Latest as manager leaves Gunners after just 18 months in charge
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
