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

“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

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

“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.