Sacked Emery says 'honour' to have coached Arsenal


Unai Emery said it had been an "honour" to coach Arsenal despite being sacked as manager of the Premier League club on Friday after just 18 months in charge. 

The 48-year-old Spaniard was fired following the 2-1 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in Thursday's Europa League match, which extended their winless run to seven games. 

Assistant Freddie Ljungberg has taken over as interim manager with ex-Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo among the early favourites to be named the next full-time boss.

Despite his sacking, Emery insisted it had been an "honour" to manage the London giants.

"It has been a year and a half full of emotions, of great moments and some other more bitter ones," he said.

"But not a single day has gone by without me stopping to think about how lucky I have been to work for this club with these players and their professional and personal qualities."

Former Arsenal player Ljungberg said he would work hard to improve the atmosphere at Arsenal.

"However long I oversee @Arsenal I will give everything I have to put smiles on faces again," he tweeted. "We have a busy few weeks ahead and the team needs your support. Let's get to work!"

Arsenal are on their worst run without a victory since 1992, when they went eight games without a win under George Graham.

They are already eight points off the top four after failing to win a Premier League match since October 6.

Emery was appointed as successor to Arsene Wenger in May 2018 after a trophy-laden career at Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain with a brief to make Arsenal a Premier League force again.

The club, who have not won the Premier League since 2004, had stagnated in the final years of Wenger's 22-year reign despite a series of cup triumphs.

But Arsenal could only finish fifth last season, missing out on the riches of the Champions League for a third straight year.

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