UNAI EMERY was finally put out of his Arsenal misery this morning – but the decision had already been made before the defeat the Frankfurt.
Head of football Raul Sanllehi and managing director Vinai Venkatesham had flown to Colorado earlier in the week to discuss the growing crisis with billionaire owner Stan Kroenke and his son Josh.
Unai Emery has been sacked after just 18 months in chargeCredit: Getty – Contributor
SunSport understands that his fate had already been decided before last night’s 2-1 defeat in the Europa League.
And it was during that meeting that Kroenke gave the green light for Arsenal to begin the search for a new manager.
Sanllehi still needed to get the green light to wield the axe from the owners in a Transatlantic phone call after last night’s game.
But the half-empty stadium and the manager’s failure to get any kind of response from a group of players who had stopped trying meant that Emery’s fate had been sealed.
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The 48-year-old Spaniard knew the end was nigh when he reported for training at nine o’clock only to be ushered into a meeting with Sanllehi, technical director Edu and Venkatesham.
It was immediately made clear that his time was up after leading the club to their worst run of results since 1992.
Emery was thanked for his services during his 18-month reign at the Emirates and informed that his Spanish coaching team would also be leaving with him.
An hour later, the news was then relayed to all the players and entire backroom staff at a specially convened meeting which was also attended by Sanllehi, Edu, Venkatesham, contract negotiator Huss Fahmy and interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg.
Emery did not address the group as a whole but was allowed to say his individual farewells before clearing his office and leaving the club for the last time.
Now his laywers will negotiate a pay-off which is likely to run to around £4million for the remaining seven months of his Arsenal contract.
Stan Kroenke gave Arsenal permission to look for a new manager before the defeat to FrankfurtCredit: PA:Press Association
TalkSport’s Moose says it was best to put Arsenal boss Unai Emery out of his misery
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
