Arsenal have sacked head coach Unai Emery after 18 months in charge.

The Spaniard was axed following a run of games that has seen the Gunners fail to win in their last seven matches. Last night, they were beaten 2-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.

It is Arsenal’s worst run of form since 1992 and former midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has been put in charge for Sunday’s trip to Norwich. The club will search for a permanent successor, with Carlo Ancelotti, Nuno Espirito Santo, Massimiliano Allegri and Patrick Vieira early contenders.

Speaking on behalf of the Arsenal board and their 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.

Frontrunners to replace Emery at Arsenal, according to bookmakers 9 show all Frontrunners to replace Emery at Arsenal, according to bookmakers 1/9 Next Arsenal manager Who will take the hotseat at the Emirates? REUTERS 2/9 Mikel Arteta Position: Man City assistant coach



Odds: 1/4 AFP/Getty Images 3/9 Massimiliano Allegri Position: Unemployed/Former Juventus manager



Odds: 3/1 REUTERS 4/9 Carlo Ancelotti Position: Unemployed, sacked by Napoli



Odds: 13/1 AFP via Getty Images 5/9 Eddie Howe Position: Bournemouth boss



Odds: 19/1 Getty Images 6/9 Freddie Ljungberg Position: Arsenal coach



Odds: 20/1 Harriet Lander/Getty Images 7/9 Patrick Vieira Position: Nice



Odds: 20/1 AFP via Getty Images 8/9 Marcelino Position: Former Valencia boss



Odds: 39/1 AFP via Getty Images/Miguel Riopa 9/9 Mauricio Pochettino Position: Unemployed, sacked by Tottenham



Odds: 43/1 AFP via Getty Images 1/9 Next Arsenal manager Who will take the hotseat at the Emirates? REUTERS 2/9 Mikel Arteta Position: Man City assistant coach



Odds: 1/4 AFP/Getty Images 3/9 Massimiliano Allegri Position: Unemployed/Former Juventus manager



Odds: 3/1 REUTERS 4/9 Carlo Ancelotti Position: Unemployed, sacked by Napoli



Odds: 13/1 AFP via Getty Images 5/9 Eddie Howe Position: Bournemouth boss



Odds: 19/1 Getty Images 6/9 Freddie Ljungberg Position: Arsenal coach



Odds: 20/1 Harriet Lander/Getty Images 7/9 Patrick Vieira Position: Nice



Odds: 20/1 AFP via Getty Images 8/9 Marcelino Position: Former Valencia boss



Odds: 39/1 AFP via Getty Images/Miguel Riopa 9/9 Mauricio Pochettino Position: Unemployed, sacked by Tottenham



Odds: 43/1 AFP via Getty Images

“The search for a new head coach is underway and we will make a further announcement when that process is complete.”

Emery had been under intense pressure to keep his job before the international break earlier this month after a dip in form, but he was backed publicly by the Arsenal hierarchy in the wake of defeat to Leicester.

Arsenal's next three matches

Norwich City (A) Dec 1

Brighton (H) Dec 5

West Ham (A) Dec 9

As Standard Sport reported at the time, the plan was to give Emery the six matches after the international break — which began against Southampton last Saturday. Arsenal snatched a late equaliser against the Saints last weekend, while defeat to Frankfurt was the final nail in the Spaniard’s coffin.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Arsenal the lead in the first half in a half-empty Emirates Stadium, but Daichi Kamada’s double consigned Emery’s team to a 2-1 defeat that ultimately sealed his fate as the players were again booed off.

Wolves manager Espirito Santo has emerged as the bookmakers’ favourite to take over permanently, but Napoli manager Ancelotti, former Juventus boss Allegri and former Arsenal captain Vieira are contenders.

Whoever takes control will be charged with turning around the Gunners’ ­disastrous form, which has seen them slip to eighth in the Premier League, eight points off the top four.

Emery had also been criticised for his side’s defensive displays. In their winless run, Arsenal conceded 15 goals and faced 113 shots on goal.

The players, too, had shown signs of losing faith in Emery’s methods and speaking before his sacking last night defender Shkodran Mustafi said they needed to go back to basics.

“We often have more of the game but don’t reward ourselves enough for that. Opponents punish us for that,” he said. “I think it’s important that we go back to basics.”

Reacting to the news, the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust insisted that while the decision was ‘inevitable’ they have reservations over whether the club’s board are capable of appointing the right successor.

In Pictures | Freddie Ljungberg 25 show all In Pictures | Freddie Ljungberg 1/25 Freddie Ljungberg has been promoted to temporary Arsenal head coach following Unai Emery's sacking. Alan Walter 2/25 Ljungberg won three Premier League titles during a nine-year stint as a player with the Gunners. PA 3/25 Ljungberg was also once the face and body of Calvin Klein's underwear campaigns. Getty Images 4/25 Ljungberg also earned 75 international caps for Sweden, playing in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. AP 5/25 Ljungberg later impressed during his time coaching Arsenal's Under-23s. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 6/25 Ljungberg - seen here with Jens Lehmann - also won the FA Cup three times with Arsenal. Daily Mail 7/25 Ljungberg in Champions League action for Arsenal against Lazio in 2000. Daily Mail 8/25 Ljungberg - sporting a pink hairstyle - celebrating a goal against West Ham at Highbury. Daily Mail 9/25 Ljungberg in another Calvin Klein ad with Russian model Natalia Vodianova. Calvin Klein 10/25 Ljungberg - seen here with Edu, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires - was a key member of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' team. AFP/Getty Images 11/25 Ljungberg joined London rivals West Ham from Arsenal in July 2007. PA 12/25 Ljungberg spent just one year at West Ham before heading to Major League Soccer. Getty Images 13/25 Ljungberg also had a short stint at Celtic in 2011. Reuters 14/25 Ljungberg on the front cover of You Magazine in April 2004. Calvin Klein 15/25 Ljungberg scores Arsenal's winner at Manchester City in the 'Invincibles' season, 2003-04. Daily Mail 16/25 Ljungberg in Champions League action against Porto in September 2006. Getty Images 17/25 Ljungberg playing for Chicago Fire - he also represented Seattle Sounders in the MLS. Getty Images 18/25 Ljungberg and Lehmann enjoy tea during a visit to Buckingham Palace in 2007. PA 19/25 Ljungberg and Arsenal met Queen Elizabeth II fourth months after she was unable to open the Emirates Stadium. AP 20/25 Ljungberg on the cover of You Magazine back in April 2004. 21/25 Ljungberg being measured for an FA Cup Final suit. 22/25 Ljungberg after being named as Footballer of the Month during his early Arsenal days. Evening Standard 23/25 Ljungberg collects the Premiership Footballer of the Year award before Tony Adams' testimonial in 2002. PA 24/25 Ljungberg was appointed as Arsenal's assistant first-team coach in June 2019. Getty Images 25/25 Ljungberg with Pires before a training session at London Colney earlier in November. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 1/25 Freddie Ljungberg has been promoted to temporary Arsenal head coach following Unai Emery's sacking. Alan Walter 2/25 Ljungberg won three Premier League titles during a nine-year stint as a player with the Gunners. PA 3/25 Ljungberg was also once the face and body of Calvin Klein's underwear campaigns. Getty Images 4/25 Ljungberg also earned 75 international caps for Sweden, playing in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. AP 5/25 Ljungberg later impressed during his time coaching Arsenal's Under-23s. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 6/25 Ljungberg - seen here with Jens Lehmann - also won the FA Cup three times with Arsenal. Daily Mail 7/25 Ljungberg in Champions League action for Arsenal against Lazio in 2000. Daily Mail 8/25 Ljungberg - sporting a pink hairstyle - celebrating a goal against West Ham at Highbury. Daily Mail 9/25 Ljungberg in another Calvin Klein ad with Russian model Natalia Vodianova. Calvin Klein 10/25 Ljungberg - seen here with Edu, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires - was a key member of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' team. AFP/Getty Images 11/25 Ljungberg joined London rivals West Ham from Arsenal in July 2007. PA 12/25 Ljungberg spent just one year at West Ham before heading to Major League Soccer. Getty Images 13/25 Ljungberg also had a short stint at Celtic in 2011. Reuters 14/25 Ljungberg on the front cover of You Magazine in April 2004. Calvin Klein 15/25 Ljungberg scores Arsenal's winner at Manchester City in the 'Invincibles' season, 2003-04. Daily Mail 16/25 Ljungberg in Champions League action against Porto in September 2006. Getty Images 17/25 Ljungberg playing for Chicago Fire - he also represented Seattle Sounders in the MLS. Getty Images 18/25 Ljungberg and Lehmann enjoy tea during a visit to Buckingham Palace in 2007. PA 19/25 Ljungberg and Arsenal met Queen Elizabeth II fourth months after she was unable to open the Emirates Stadium. AP 20/25 Ljungberg on the cover of You Magazine back in April 2004. 21/25 Ljungberg being measured for an FA Cup Final suit. 22/25 Ljungberg after being named as Footballer of the Month during his early Arsenal days. Evening Standard 23/25 Ljungberg collects the Premiership Footballer of the Year award before Tony Adams' testimonial in 2002. PA 24/25 Ljungberg was appointed as Arsenal's assistant first-team coach in June 2019. Getty Images 25/25 Ljungberg with Pires before a training session at London Colney earlier in November. Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“The dismissal of Unai Emery was unfortunate but inevitable,” read a statement from AST. “Performances and results have been far below what is expected at Arsenal.

“But Emery’s departure is the easy part. The more difficult challenge is to recruit a suitable successor. We are far from certain that Arsenal has the right personnel to lead this process.

“The AST has long been advocating that the most important changes needed at Arsenal are in the Boardroom where Arsenal need better governance.