The Athletic's David Ornstein reports , externalthat Unai Emery took training as planned this morning, apparently unaware that he was to be sacked.

The players were subsequently gathered together by head of football Raul Sanllehi who broke the news of Emery's departure.

The Daily Telegraph

Image source, Getty Images

Former Chelsea manager and three-time Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti is a candidate to replace Unai Emery as the new permanent head coach according to the Daily Telegraph.

Ancelotti is currently at Napoli, where his side are seventh in Serie A amid reports of dressing room unrest.

"As one of the game’s most successful coaches, Ancelotti would command an annual salary of between £12m and £15m," adds Sam Wallace., external

Simon Stone
on BBC Radio 5 Live

For a club of that size, it has been seven games without a win and it has just not been good enough.

Can you see Pochettino going from Tottenham to Arsenal? I can’t see that.

I have been in touch with Wolves, but they don't want to talk about what's happening at Arsenal and as far as they are concerened, it is business as usual.

Rammus: Best of luck to Ljungberg. Having an Invincible in charge, even temporarily, will steady this ship and instill Arsenal values into this team

James Reynolds: Wonder who Arsenal will choose next, Poch? Spurs fans would be furious, Nuno? If i was Nuno I wouldn't be interested. I honestly think they should give Eddie Howe a chance, he's done a great job at Bournemouth. Wonder who's the next manager to go? I reckon Solskjaer

Lewis Squires: What's the chances of Pochettino making the move across North London?

Image source, Getty Images

Freddie Ljungberg will fill in as interim head coach while the search for Unai Emery's permanent successor continues.

It will be Ljungberg's first senior mangerial role after working as Emery assistant and with various youth teams at the club. He also had a short stint as Andries Jonker's assistant at Wolfsburg.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal's club statement reads as follows:

We announce today that the decision has been taken to part company with our head coach Unai Emery and his coaching team.

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

More soon

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Since taking charge of Arsenal for the first time in August 2018, Unai Emery has won 88 points in the Premier League – the same tally as rivals Spurs. Only three clubs have won more in this period, but the 88-point tally is 46 fewer than Liverpool in that time.

Arsenal have conceded 70 Premier League goals under Unai Emery – more than any other ‘big six’ club in the Premier League since the start of 2018-19.

Chris Williams: Forget win percentages, the only stats you need to look at for Emery's Arsenal tenure is shots on goal for and against, it is damning reading

Adam: The team is actually worse than last season. if we don’t make a change and show no improvement, Aubamayeang is gone.

Tom Sarcaso: Emery was the wrong man for the job. We went from rigid tactics and not playing the opposition any respect, to paying them too much and not knowing how we will line up or best 11. Best for everyone... especially with Auba and Laca's contracts needing to be renewed.

Unai Emery has the third best win percentage of any Arsenal manager to have taken charge of more than 20 matches.

• Joe Shaw Jan 1934-May 1934 60.9%
• Arsene Wenger Oct 1996-May 2018 57.3%
• Unai Emery Aug 2018-present 55.1%

Goal correspondent Charlie Watts says that the Arsenal club hierarchy are ready to act swiftly and decisively.

Bezeleel: It's an unfortunate situation for Unai Emery. We're in an era where fans demand instant results and patience grows very thin quickly when results aren't going well in your favour. He needs funds and time to create the squad needed for top notch performance.

Zak: Emery should have gone after Baku. He was the wrong appointment in the first place. Gazidis well and truly screwed us over before he left, just as he did many years before under wenger’s reign. Wenger should have left in 2007 but the board kept him in because it was convenient for them and we were making money from champions league. That is why the club is in a desperate situation today far away from competing for the biggest trophies on offer. Our club is dead and wholesale changes are required! That is the reality. Give Marco Rose the job in the summer, Freddie in the interim! Lets rebuild! COYG

Gooner4life: Looking at Nuno Espirito Santo is madness. We need to get some unity in the squad, the players need to give everything for each other, the club and us fans while still playing possession based football. Only one person can provide all these,Chris Wilder has everything we need and more. Tactically astute #theenglishpep

The Daily Mail

Image source, Getty

The Daily Mail report that the majority of the Arsenal board are in favour of sacking Unai Emery and that they could make a recommendation to do so to owner Stan Kroenke today., external

Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce on the challenge of playing champions Manchester City: They're as good as you get. We'll have to defend well and take our chances but we've done OK against some of the big teams this season. Let's hope we can again."

Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has been reflecting on Matt Ritchie's injury setback, with the 30-year-old requiring ankle surgery and facing a long lay-off.

"We’re devastated and so is he, " Bruce said

"We did give him a period of rest, he went to see the specialist again and had the operation the next morning. We hope this time he’s back in training in early January.”

Bournemouth

Looking at last season's visit to Spurs, Eddie Howe wants to see a similar start, but this time to make sure there is a goal.

"The away game at Spurs last year we started so well and should have scored," Howe said.

"Whereas the home game we found it tough to break them down and the goal came late.

"We need to step up to the plate on Saturday and perform."

"Now, we're fighting to try and create new memories and that's the message to my players."

Image source, Getty Images

We will bring you the latest on Emery's fate as soon as we have it.

But in the meantime, here's what Eddie Howe has to say ahead of his side's visit to Tottenham on Saturday...