Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has penned a letter to Arsenal Football Club and its fans in his first message since his sack. The 48-year-old manager was shown the exit door on Friday morning after enduring a seven-game winless run with the Gunners in all competition.
After months of pressure mounting on the back of Emery amid calls by fans for his sack, the Spanish manager was unable to turn the fortunes of the London outfit around. The former PSG boss saw his side beaten at home by Eintracht Frankfurt in Thurday's and was relieved of his duties at a meeting with club bosses Edu and Raul Sanllehi in the morning that followed. I
n a letter released on Arsenal's official website, he thanked his former players, club's hierarchy and fans for their support and wished them the best for the reminder of the season.
"It has been an honor to be the Arsenal head coach.
"To all the fans, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for helping me to understand and feel the greatness of Arsenal. To all of you who have supported us from every corner of the globe, all of you who have come to the Emirates, all of you who have waited in the rain and cold just to greet me after a game. I want to tell all of you that I have worked with passion, with commitment and with effort.
"I would have liked nothing more than to have achieved better results for you," he continued.
A letter of thanks to Arsenal from Unai Emery...
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 29, 2019
"I also want to send a message of gratitude to all Arsenal employees for the way they have treated me. The greatness of Arsenal is in every director, executive, employee, assistant and volunteer.
"In particular, I want to highlight Ivan Gazidis, who welcomed me to the club, and Raul Sanllehi, Edu and Vinai Venkatesham for their respect, companionship and help. Until the very last minute I have been treated with honor and honesty. And of course, I send my sincere gratitude to the Kroenke family, for their trust.
"It has been a year and a half full of emotions, of great moments and some other more bitter ones, but not a single day has gone by without me stopping to think about how lucky I have been to work for this club with these players and their professional and personal qualities.
"They have always honored the shirt they wear. They deserve your support.
"I had already experienced a lot in football, but I have enjoyed and learned a lot in England, in the Premier League, about respect for professionals and about the purity of football.
"My best wishes always. COYG."
Unai Emery departs from Arsenal with a 43 wins from 71 outings, drawing 19 and losing the remaining 16.
