Arsenal’s board is considering making an approach for Mauricio Pochettino following their decision to sack Unai Emery.
The Spaniard was given his marching orders on Friday morning, less than 24 hours after a demoralising Europa League defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt, played out in front of a half empty Emirates Stadium.
Emery replaced Arsene Wenger 18 months ago, but after showing signs of initial promise the team’s form and the quality of its performances has deteriorated rapidly, culminating in a run of just one win in the last nine matches.
The 48-year-old arrived for training on Friday morning as usual but was informed of the decision to relieve him of his duties by technical director Edu and managing director Vinai Venkatesham.
Freddie Ljungberg has been placed in temporary charge and will pick the team for Sunday’s Premier League match against Norwich but the search for Emery’s replacement has already begun in earnest.
Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers and Wolves’ boss Nuno Espirito Santo are said to be among the leading candidates, while Max Allegri, who has been out of work since leaving Juventus at the end of last season, and Napoli’s experienced former Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti are also under consideration.
According to The Athletic, meanwhile, the Arsenal board have discussed the viability of Mauricio Pochettino, who was sacked by Tottenham last week after five highly successful years in the white half of north London.
The Argentine said last year he would rather return to work on his farm in his homeland rather than one day to defect to Arsenal, but the dramatic and sudden nature of his dismissal could tempt him to defect.
Pochettino and his staff still live in London and are available to work, while his track record in developing young players would appeal to the Arsenal board, who have actively talked up the crop of young players who have risen through their academy.
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