Arsenal identify their top two managerial targets to replace Unai Emery: report

Arsenal have reportedly earmarked a couple of managerial targets with the pressure mounting on Unai Emery to transform the club’s fortunes in the Premier League.

The Gunners missed out on Champions League football during Emery’s debut campaign last term as they finished fifth in the league while suffering an embarrassing 4-1 defeat in the Europa League final to Chelsea.

The current season started on a positive note with the club accumulating 15 points from the opening eight games but things have since gone astray with just two points acquired from the next three matches.

As a result, there is plenty of pressure mounting on the shoulders of Emery, given the club are already six points behind Leicester City, who are occupying the final Champions League spot.

According to The Mirror, the Gunners are looking into a potential successor for the Spanish tactician, should he fail to improve on the club’s performances in the forthcoming games.

The same outlet claims that Massimiliano Allegri, formerly of Juventus and Manchester City assistant Mikel Arteta are among the leading candidates to take charge, should Emery get sacked.

Allegri is out of work following his decision to leave the Bianconeri at the end of last season and he has since been linked with a number of elite teams including Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Elsewhere, Arteta was highlighted as one of the main candidates to succeed Arsene Wenger before Emery’s arrival last year and the former Gunners captain has been fancied to step into club management in the near future.

Arsenal are scheduled to face Vitoria in Wednesday’s Europa League group stage clash on the road. The Gunners struggled against the Primeira Liga outfit last month and only some late heroics from Nicolas Pepe saved their blushes.

Pepe scored with two splendid freekicks in the 3-2 comeback win on that night and the Ivorian could make the starting XI on Wednesday after being completely rested for the recent league clash against Wolves.