ROBINSON’S GOT GROWING BELIEF
Crisis is far from Auba
ARSENAL are facing a fullblown crisis over their search for a manager and the potential loss of PierreEmerick Aubameyang.
The club’s hierarchy are panicking because they hoped caretaker boss Freddie Ljungberg would buy them time before they made a permanent appointment.
But there are already fears about his lack of managerial experience and the club may have to bring in a boss quickly rather than in the summer.
The Gunners are in the middle of their worst run since 1977 after going nine games without a win.
They go to West Ham on Monday and then face Standard Liege in the Europa League before entertaining Manchester City.
They then face Chelsea and
Manchester
United and a bad run could suck them into a relegation scrap. A draw at Norwich and Thursday’s 2-1 home defeat to Brighton was a clear sign that Ljungberg has not been able to inspire a new manager bounce.
The decision of Brendan Rodgers to commit himself to Leicester has taken one favoured candidate out of the equation and the club are undecided on exactly how they should proceed.
They are also starting to feel the pressure because Ljungberg has yet to show he could be an option.
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta, now a coach at Manchester City, is on the list and may take it mid-season, despite Pep Guardiola viewing him as a potential successor at the Etihad.
But the club’s decision-makers are split on who to go for as ex-Juventus manager Max Allegri does not speak good English and wants to wait until the summer before taking a new job.
They have cooled on Wolves boss
Nuno Espirito Santo, while Patrick Vieira has been struggling at Nice and is wanted by David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
Arsenal have begun sounding out candidates and Everton target Vitor Pereira – currently at Shanghai SIPG – has been mentioned but seems set for Goodison Park and would not be the big name the fans are hoping for.
The managerial woes come on top of growing concerns about captain Aubameyang, who is ready to quit next summer with the club set to miss out on the Champions League.
The striker has pulled out of talks on extending his deal beyond 2021, is frustrated with the club’s lack of progress and wants to win trophies as he hits 31 in June. Arsenal face a dilemma whether to sell or let him go into the final year of his deal.
SHEFFIELD UNITED’S self-belief will help them bounce back from Thursday night’s surprise home defeat by Newcastle.
That’s the view of striker Callum Robinson ahead of tomorrow’s trip to take on a Norwich outfit that pipped them to the Championship title last May.
Robinson, 24, said: “As the season has gone on, so our self-belief has been boosted by the results we’ve achieved and the performances we have put in against some of the Premier League’s top sides.
“We are realising now that we are a really good team. Sometimes when you’re going into the unknown, you don’t actually realise how good you are, and maybe we sold ourselves a little bit short at the start.
“But now we know we can thrive at this level and before each match we are coming out more confident.
“Staying up is still the main objective but we can do more.
“It’s just a question of keeping that belief up while making sure we don’t get overconfident because you know there’s real quality in this league in teams that can hurt you.
“We just go into every single game wanting to do the best we can, keep on winning and learning as a group.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve changed targets but hopefully we can stay in the running for a highplace finish. We really want to drive on this season and show people what we are all about.”
Robinson has yet to cement his place in Chris Wilder’s starting line-up but he is happy to be patient and wait for his opportunity.
The ex-Preston star added: “The manager knows what I can do and my work-rate and understanding of the game is why he brought me here.
“He knows my ability, what I’ve got and what I can bring to the team.
“But I am still learning and just want to get better, so I’m keeping my head down and working hard.”