Unai Emery has thanked Arsenal fans for their support in a statement released soon after he was removed from his position at the Emirates.

The Spaniard was dismissed on Friday morning after overseeing a woeful run of no wins from Arsenal's past seven games.

Former Gunners midfielder Freddie Ljungberg will take over on an interim basis until the club locates a permanent replacement.

In a statement released on the club's official website, Emery said: "It has been an honour 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. 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.

"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 honoured 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."

Reports suggest that Mikel Arteta, Massimiliano Allegri, Nuno Espirito Santo and Brendan Rodgers are among the leading candidates for the role.

However, it has been claimed that former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is also viewed as a 'credible' option.