Unai Emery’s Arsenal future is hanging by a thread with the club hierarchy considering possible replacements following a run of six matches without a win and a ­widespread loss of faith from the supporters.

Emery insisted that Arsenal’s executives are “supporting” and “backing” him, but the feeling within the club is that the head coach’s departure is now imminent unless he can engineer a sudden and unexpected upturn in performances.

The Daily Telegraph understands that Arsenal have begun the ­process of weighing up potential replacements for Emery, with Massimiliano Allegri, the former ­Juventus manager, and Nuno Espirito Santo, the Wolves manager, believed to be among those who are seen as ­possible candidates for the job.

Arsenal meet Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday before a trip to Norwich City on Sunday in a match that will feel perilous for Emery, who has overseen just one away victory in the Premier League this season.

Freddie Ljungberg, the assistant coach, is seen by many as the obvious candidate to take over from Emery on a temporary basis if technical director Edu and head of football Raul Sanllehi are unable to recruit a more experienced manager at this busy stage of the season.