Interim Arsenal head coach Freddie Ljungberg says that Arsenal can still finish in the top four, despite their current slump.
Freddie Ljungberg took charge of his first game on Sunday against Norwhich following the sacking of Unai Emery.
Arsenal drew the game 2 – 2 after going behind twice at Carrow Road, thanks to goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang. Other results went their way, so they didn’t fall any further behind in the top four race. However, it’s hard to see how Arsenal can recover in time to mount a genuine challenge.
“100 per cent [we can finish in the top four],” Freddie Ljungberg said after the game.
“People drop points here and there and we drop points, it’s a crazy league at the moment. I hope and think Arsenal can finish in the top four.”
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The bookies agree with him, at least for now. Paddy Power projects Arsenal to finish in fourth place, with odds of 8/1 to finish in the top four.
They’re currently 8th in the league, 7 points off of fourth place, which is a big part of the reason why Unai Emery lost his job.
Emery was sacked on Friday after Arsenal lost 1 – 2 at home to Frankfurt in the Europa League the day before. It was the final nail in the coffin for a head coach who had lost all authority in the dressing room.
For Arsenal, the decision may have come a few weeks too late to save their season, although it was definitely the right one.
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Their search for a new coach will have to end sometime before the season ends. Ljungberg’s coaching licence only allows him to coach the team as a caretaker for a maximum period of three months.
The most prominent options are Max Allegri, Mikel Arteta and Nuno Espiro Santo. All three would represent a big risk. However, given that the top coaches are presently beyond Arsenal’s reach, the next successful Arsenal coach is going to have to be a left field option, if and when they find it.
