This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Before the clash against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, you would have been hard pressed to find many Arsenal fans who may have hoped, or even expected a win. But even the most ardent of Gunners supporters would have been shocked by just how easy things were for the Premier League champions.
The Citizens romped to a three-goal lead by half-time, and in the end, took the gas off the pedal as they sauntered their way to another three points. It was much an indictment of Arsenal’s own struggles, as the sheer gulf in class between the two teams right now. And speaking after the game, a beleaguered Freddie Ljungberg made it abundantly clear that the job he is doing at the moment, is essentially only a plaster job.
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He said (as quoted by Sky Sports): “I’ve said to the club, it’s a great, great honour to do this. But of course, Per (Mertesacker) is an academy manager, and is doing two jobs at once. I think it needs to be cleared up to make a decision, so everybody knows, but that’s up to the club.
“I’m very honoured, and try to do things as good as I can, but I think as well it would be good to make a decision, regardless of what it is. I’ve said to them I think they need to make a decision.”
The Swede is doing the Gunners a favour by holding the fort as the club’s dithering board look to appoint a permanent successor to Unai Emery. But leave it any longer, and the north London side are just exposing themselves to self-harm beyond belief. It’s a situation of their own making, and they are simply making it worse by showing no signs of being proactive.
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Ljungberg’s pleas for a decision to be made – whether it’s a new manager coming in or him taking the job to the end of the season – has to be heard by the likes of Edu and Raul Sanllehi, the king-makers of this entire process. In trying to be so scientifically pragmatic about things by supposedly having a 12-man shortlist and preparing lengthy interviews with all of them, the Gunners are completely forgetting about matters on the pitch – the place which ultimately is the most important.
The Arsenal board have nowhere to hide. Ljungberg has thrown down the gauntlet, and a decision must be taken in immediate fashion.
Meanwhile, Freddie Ljungberg must do this one thing to leave a legacy behind as Arsenal’s interim head coach.