‘Shocked phone calls’ – Nuno’s sackingpublished at 15:17 BST
15:17 BST
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (Sat, 12:30 BST)
Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter
Some players found out about Nuno Espirito Santo’s exit from their team mates, shocked messages and phone calls going around with many on international duty this week before reporting back.
Nuno was popular, he fostered a unity in the squad and club which helped push their Champions League challenge last season.
Ange Postecoglou must harness that to drive the club and squad on again. It will not be lost from within a close-knit squad and the new manager will surely recognise that.
The former Australia boss, though, is usually quiet and reserved initially, preferring to get ready for business and enjoying his own space.
He confirmed that earlier by saying he’d given the players space to digest Nuno’s exit.
Nick Montgomery, Mile Jedinak and Sergio Raimundo have joined as assistants along with Rob Burch as goalkeeping coach – having worked with Postecoglou at Tottenham – and they are likely to be the link with the rest of the staff, rather than the manager himself.
Not to say Postecoglou will ignore others but he is there to work, professional, direct and focused.
Those close to him have described him as honest, a good man, and unapologetic about how he wants to play.