LJUNG ONES NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON TOP FOUR 2 2
FREDDIE LJUNGBERG ‘100 per cent’ believes Arsenal can finish in the top four even though their winless run now stretches to eight games after his first as interim manager.
The Gunners, who sacked Unai Emery on Friday, twice came from behind to secure a point in an entertaining game at Carrow Road.
Ljungberg had captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to thank after he cancelled out goals from Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell for Norwich.
Drawing at a side who remain second-bottom of the Premier League may do little for Arsenal’s hopes of making the Champions League but Ljungberg remains optimistic. Asked if a top-four finish was achievable, the under-23s boss said: ‘Yes 100 per cent. People drop points here and there and we drop points and it is a bit of a crazy league at the moment.
‘Of course I hope and think Arsenal can get back into the top four.’
Former Arsenal centre-half Per Mertesacker joined the Swede on the touchline and cannot have been impressed with some of their defending, Shkodran Mustafi having a difficult afternoon on his return.
Pukki opened the scoring with a shot which changed direction off the German on its way into the net.
Aubameyang levelled from a retaken penalty after VAR ruled Max Aarons had encroached when Tim Kruul saved the original spot-kick.
Cantwell curled Norwich back in front before half-time but Aubameyang moved up to ten league goals this term by netting from six yards after Mustafi’s volley was blocked.
Norwich went closest to a winner but Kenny McLean’s shot was superbly tipped away by Bernd Leno. ‘I was proud and honoured to be allowed to stand on the touchline and lead this great club,’ added Ljungberg, an Arsenal player from 1998 to 2007.
‘We had problems on the transition when we had possession, so that is something we have to work on and not get countered on in those ways.
‘After that... extremely proud of the players to come back twice.’
On why he turned to 18-year-old striker Bukayo Saka, rather than record-signing Nicolas Pepe in his search for a winner, Ljungberg added: ‘Pepe is a very good player, but what is done in training and what I see every day is how I judge it.’