Senior figures at Arsenal are reviewing the position of Unai Emery and he could be sacked before the trip to Norwich on Sunday, sources have told ESPN.
Thursday's 2-1 Europa League defeat at home to Eintracht Frankfurt appears to have been the last straw for the club's hierarchy.
Emery's position is now untenable, the sources have said. The Gunners have gone seven games without a win in all competitions, their worst run in 27 years. Emery and the team were booed by a half-empty stadium after another poor performance Thursday, and it is more a question of when, not if, the former Paris Saint-Germain manager will be sacked.
The board has been supportive of Emery since the start of the season despite a series of very average results and displays. Now, however, their patience and support has reached its limits. Emery had many chances to turn things around but never found the right formula and the solutions to do so. Senior figures at the club have already discussed Emery's future and will continue to do so Friday.
Emery's baffling team selections have surprised players and staff, as well as his coaching. When Arsenal were 2-1 down against Frankfurt on Thursday with 15 minutes to go, the manager subbed on a defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira while three attacking players -- Nicolas Pepe, Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson -- all sat on the bench.
Freddie Ljungberg, Emery's current assistant, is favourite to take over on an interim basis. Arsenal would then start their process to recruit a new manager, just 18 months after appointing Emery.