We are not where I want team to be, confesses Freddie Ljungberg
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Interim Arsenal manager Freddie Ljungberg has admitted that the Gunners are nowhere close to where he wants them to be but the players are putting working hard to improve. The 42-year-old Swede also admitted that he doesn’t know how long will he be kept in charge of the North London club.
Arsenal managed to win their first game under interim manager Freddie Ljungberg as the gunners defeated West Ham United 3-1 at the London Stadium. It's the first under for the club in over nine games and the first under Ljungberg since the Swede replaced Unai Emery. The Spaniard was sacked after a 3-1 home loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Europa League with Ljungberg taking over as the interim boss. However, while there have been links to a catalogue of managers no move has materialized.
That has seen Ljungberg admit that he does not know how long he will be in charge for as the club owners and directors continue their search for long term replacement for Emery. The 42-year-old Ljungberg also admitted that he has already spoken to Edu and has been told to work on a game by game basis which has seen him not create a proper backroom staff as well at the moment. He further added that the team needs to improve a lot and are nowhere close to playing the football that he believes they can play on a daily basis.Â
“We are not near to where I want us to be. There are a lot of things to fix. I speak to [technical director] Edu. I don't have much of a staff. I have been told to work on a game-by-game basis. To win is a great feeling and it's a lot better to win than lose. This is a club I love. We have a lot to work on. The players have been under a lot of pressure but had the mental strength to win,” said Ljungberg to the BBC.
Arsenal went into the Premier League match at London Stadium without a win in nine games in all competitions - their worst run since 1977 - and in the bottom half of the table. Ljungberg's side drew 2-2 at Norwich in his first game in charge and then were beaten 2-1 at home by Brighton on Thursday. Tables finally turned for the North Londoners as goals from Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe helped them seal the victory against Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
“This is down to the players - the boys did amazing - and I'm just there to guide them. In the first half we were slow and lethargic, we didn't move or run, and that comes from low confidence but in the second half it was how we wanted to play. I hope this changes the mood and the players looked happy in the dressing room. It's been tough for them, they have been living under enormous pressure and you see it in their performances. We have a lot of things to work on but it feels nice.
"It is amazing what they did today. I just want to enjoy the day and then get to work tomorrow. We enjoy tonight and we continue working tomorrow. We have to work on our belief - that was the difference,” concluded the former Arsenal player.
