It's now a matter of 'when' not 'if' Unai Emery is sacked by Arsenal.

The Spaniard's time in the charge of the Gunners has taken a sour turn in recent months, with the Gunners mustering just two wins in their last 11 games.

They have not won in the Premier League in their last five games, leaving the club eight points adrift of Champions League qualification.

With no style on the pitch, key players underperforming and a defence that looks like it could be breached by a League Two side with ease, there seems to be only one logical outcome.

Pretty much every major news outlet has reported Emery being on thin ice and last night, the Daily Mail dropped the bombshell that Arsenal's number one target to replace him has been identified.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is their preferred choice, with head of football Raul Sanllehi a close ally of the manager's agent, Jorge Mendes.

Emery's position is now being judged on a game-to-game basis, meaning a loss to Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday or Norwich on the weekend could spell the end.

However, Arsenal are concerned about trying to convince Espirito Santo to ditch his in-form Wolves side halfway through a season - especially with the team still in the Europa League.

As such, it is likely that Freddie Ljungberg and Steve Bould would takeover the club on an interim basis until the summer.

Mauricio Pochettino has also been identified as a potential target, but it's Espirito Santo that sits atop Arsenal's wish-list.

ANALYSIS

GIVEMESPORT'S Danny Ryan says:

Despite not having the reputation of a Pochettino or a Max Allegri, Espirito Santo would be a wise acquisition for Arsenal.

His Wolves team played exciting, aesthetically-pleasing football, while also looking strong at the back.

Espirito Santo's team is everything Arsenal are not and the way the Portuguese has worked with and improved Adama Traore would be good news for the Gunners' record signing, Nicolas Pepe.

Some fans might scoff at the idea that Espirito Santo is not an 'elite manager' like Jose Mourinho, but he has managerial skill to turn Arsenal back into a Premier League force.

Imagine if he brought Ruben Neves with him as well?