Unai Emery: Five potential replacements at Arsenal

Many an Arsenal fan rejoiced on Thursday afternoon after the announcement that the club had parted ways with their beleaguered manager, Unai Emery.

The Spaniard had guided the Gunners to a seven-match winless run. Their most recent result was a 2-1 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.

According to the club, Emery was let go by mutual agreement, bringing an end to a short, yet unimpressive spell in charge.

“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,” Josh Kroenke is quoted in the club statement. “We wish Unai and his team nothing but future success.”

Josh Kroenke

Former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg will take over from Emery, while the club searches for a new manager.

This means that the club is back to a position they are quite unfamiliar with – having to look for a new manager mid-season.

There are a few prominent candidates for the position, and we take a look at a few who could soon call The Emirates home.

Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino celebrates during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

The Argentinean was recently let go by Arsenal’s arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur who subsequently took Jose Mourinho – who too could have been considered by Arsenal – off the market.

In his five years in charge of Spurs, Pochettino brought the club back near the top of English football, even making the Champions League final in 2018, which they lost to Everton.

Despite falling short of silverware at his previous employers, he has been punted by many favourites as the best candidate to take over at their North London rivals.

Freddie Ljungberg 

The Dane is the man entrusted with filling in the gap during the search for a new manager. This allows him the perfect opportunity to audition for the main role.

Should results go his way, he could find himself considered for the job, if he wishes to take it up on a permanent basis.

Nuno Espírito Santo

Various reports have tipped Wolves manager, Nuno Espírito Santo as a potential replacement for Unai Emery.

The Portuguese wouldn’t be an altogether bad choice, given what he has achieved with an unfancied Wolverhampton Wanderers outfit.

Mikel Arteta

Assistant coach Mikel Arteta looks on during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 16, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Another former Arsenal player who could be considered is Spaniard, Mikel Arteta.

The former Gunners skipper is currently working as an understudy to one of the best in the business in Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

He could be one of the frontrunners should Arsenal go the same route as Chelsea and Manchester United in entrusting a club legend with bringing back the glory days.

Max Allegri 

The former Juventus boss has spent his entire managerial career in his home country of Italy, and has been linked with a move to England.

Reports suggest that Man United are also interested in roping him in but, after parting ways with Emery, Arsenal are in the perfect position to beat them to the punch.