Arsenal football chief Raul Sanllehi sacked Unai Emery as manager this morning in a 9am meeting.

The Sun says the 48-year-old Spaniard knew the end was nigh when he reported for training at nine o'clock only to be ushered into a meeting with Sanllehi, technical director Edu and managing director Vinai Venkatesham.

And it was immediately made clear that his time was up after leading the club to their worst run of results since 1992.

Emery was thanked for his services during his 18-month reign at the Emirates and informed that his Spanish coaching team would also be leaving with him.

An hour later, the news was then relayed to all the players and entire backroom staff at a specially convened meeting which was also attended by Sanllehi, Edu, Venkatesham, contract negotiator Huss Fahmy and interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg.

Emery did not address the group as a whole but was allowed to say his individual farewells before clearing his office and leaving the club for the last time.

Now his laywers will negotiate a pay-off which is likely to run to around £4million for the remaining seven months of his Arsenal contract.