Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Former Arsenal striker John Hartson says Unai Emery “had to go” but has criticised the Gunners’ new interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg .
Emery was sacked by the north London club on Friday morning after a Europa League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt extended the team’s winless run to seven matches in all competitions.
Hartson, who played for Arsenal between 1995 and 1997 and now works as a pundit, supported the decision to dismiss the Spaniard, but questioned Ljungberg’s contribution against Frankfurt.
Ex-Gunners midfielder Ljungberg had been working as assistant first-team coach under Emery this season after being promoted during the summer.
“Ljungberg was a great help to Emery last night ... sat down for 90 mins ...” Hartson tweeted.
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of ArsenalShow all 24 1 /24In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Unai Emery's Arsenal reign in pictures Farewell to the funny faces, the exaggerated gestures, the curious midfield tinkering - the Unai Emery era is over.
Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Beginnings Officially appointed the successor to Arsene Wenger on 23 May 2018, Unai Emery brought fresh hope at the end of the Frenchman's long spell at the helm.
Arsenal FC via Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Exploring his new home It was to be an 18-month lease rather than 20-year mortgage for Emery, but he initially presented a confident and competent figure in his new job.
Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Leafing through the history books Emery was probably hoping he would have a slightly longer chapter in the re-issue.
Arsenal FC via Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal The 2018/19 squad A fine crop of players with which to work for Unai Emery, and a chance to build a new identity at the Emirates.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal False start Hardly a vintage beginning. Defeat to Chelsea followed an opening day loss to Manchester City, and Arsenal's first Premier League campaign with Emery at the tiller had begun poorly.
Reuters
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Off the mark A first win in the Premier League came swiftly, however, Danny Welbeck on the scoresheet in a 3-1 victory over West Ham.
Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal 22 games unbeaten Emery soon stumbled upon a particularly successful formula, going unbeaten in September, October and November to assemble a 22-game unbeaten run.
AFP/Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Unbeaten run ends A Charlie Austin winner for Southampton, and the 22-game unbeaten run, the zenith of the Emery era, was over.
Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Emery and Ozil A relationship that was never particularly rosy, with Ozil in and out of the side for various reasons throughout Emery's time in charge. The manager never got the best out of his marquee creator.
Reuters
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Crystal Palace 3-2 Arsenal After opting to rotate his squad amid a busy fixture schedule, Emery saw his Arsenal side beaten at the Emirates by Crystal Palace in a serious blow to Arsenal's top-four hopes.
Reuters
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Brighton end top four hopes Arsenal stumbled to the close in the Premier League as they jostled with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham for a top-four spot, but a 1-1 home draw with Brighton meant even a final day win was not enough to take a Champions League place.
Action Images via Reuters
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Fresh focus As Arsenal's league form faded, focus turned to a Europa League campaign of real promise, with the Gunners grinding their way through the rounds to reach the final.
REUTERS
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Chelsea win Europa League It was not to be in Baku for Arsenal as Chelsea lifted the Europa League trophy.
Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal What might have been... Might Emery still be in charge had Arsenal secured the Europa League crown?
PA
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Nicolas Pepe signs A fresh toy for Unai Emery to play with, adding the dangerous Ivorian to the already potent forward force at the club.
Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal A solid start to the second season Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goal secured a 1-0 opening day win over Newcastle as Arsenal began Emery's second season in charge well.
PA
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Off-field relationships strain But the seeds of discontent had been sowed, and rumours of issues within the dressing room emerged, with Emery supposedly becoming a figure of ridicule. Relationships with key players strained, including captain Granit Xhaka.
Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Watford 2-2 Arsenal A horrible performance against a side then winless, Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead and were fortunate to hold on to even a point, with Granit Xhaka admitting they were "scared". Not ideal.
REUTERS
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Xhaka stripped of captaincy And Xhaka's outburst against Crystal Palace saw him stripped of the captaincy, exacerbating the leadership issue within a squad already lacking in totemic figures.
Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Blades chop Arsenal down It had all the makings of an upset, a cold, wet Monday night in Sheffield, an Arsenal side low on confidence, a Sheffield United side anything but. Nicolas Pepe missed a sitter, Lys Mousset did not, and Arsenal were plunged into further bother.
AFP via Getty Images
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Further woes As the end drew near problems on-the-field only got worse. Arsenal were tactically naive and completely lacking in verve or vigour, and a winless run had stretched to six games as Arsenal prepared to face Eintracht Frankfurt.
AFP via Getty Images
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal The final game A sparse crowd and a dreadful performance in a game few cared about as Arsenal fell to Europa League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, and the final nail in the coffin on Unai Emery's tenure. He departs Arsenal with a record of 43 wins, 16 draws and 19 defeats.
AFP via Getty
In pictures: Unai Emery's time in charge of Arsenal Farewell... Unai Emery arrived at the Arsenal training ground ready to take training. He left without a job. One year and six months after his appointment, Emery was sacked.
Getty
“Surely you get in the manager’s ear if you can see what’s going wrong ... Emery had to go.”
After being chosen in May 2018 as the man to follow Arsene Wenger’s 22-year reign, Emery missed out on Champions League qualification in his first season having finished fifth in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final.
The Gunners are currently eighth in the top flight following just four wins from 13 matches ahead of Sunday’s match at Norwich.
Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who played in Emery’s final game, apologised and said the players must take responsibility for recent poor results.
“Thank you UnaiEmery- and Javi (Garcia, goalkeeping coach) I’m sorry we let you down, it’s our fault for not performing the right way, I’m sure we will meet again,” he tweeted.
Former Arsenal youth player Fabrice Muamba was not surprised to see the club make a managerial change, tweeting: “Result business.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies