Decision beckons
Ljungberg calls for quick managerial call after City defeat
ARSENAL caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg believes the club must make a permanent appointment quickly to halt their slide after a Kevin De
Bruyne inspired
Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 win at the Emirates on Sunday.
Arsenal down in ninth in the Premier
League on the back of just one win in their last 12 games in all competitions.
LIVERPOOL MANAGER
Ljungberg has been in charge for five of those matches, but is hoping a permanent appointment can be made before next weekend's trip to Everton.
“It is a great honour to do this, but I’ve said I think it needs to be cleared up, to make a decision so that everybody knows,” said Ljungberg.
“It is totally up to the club. I try to do things as well as I can but Per Mertesacker is academy manager and is having to do two jobs I’ve told the club that it needs to be cleared up and that they need to make a decision, regardless of what that is.”
Arsenal’s preparation for the game had been disturbed by the controversy surrounding Mesut Ozil’s support for the Muslim minority Uighurs in Chinese province Xinjiang.
Chinese
state broadcaster CCTV pulled coverage of the match and Arsenal distanced themselves from Ozil’s comments.
The German was still selected by Ljungberg, but made little impact before being substituted on the hour mark and his slow walk to the touchline before booting away his gloves in frustration drew the wrath of some disgruntled Arsenal fans.
“The China thing, that is a political discussion that I leave for the club to deal with,” added Ljungberg.
“When it comes to other stuff, he should be annoyed when he comes off, but I am the coach I took the decision we need more energy in the team.
“We are a team that wants to have possession but sometimes we need to run and tackle and try to win the ball back.”
The appointment of a new manager cannot come soon enough if the Gunners are to salvage anything from a thoroughly disappointing season so far. – AFP/The Independent