Former Premier League winner Chris Sutton has torn into interim Arsenal boss Freddie Ljungberg, claiming he is ‘out of his depth’.
The Swede has abundantly failed to get a reaction from the Gunners players since replacing the sacked Unai Emery, and Sutton feels Sunday’s abject 3-0 defeat to Manchester City must be the final straw.
“But Arsenal’s interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg looked out of his depth the entire time, too,” he wrote in his Daily Mail column. “The boos at half-time from the Arsenal fans were weary. They could barely be bothered to let their anger be known. This is a club going downhill and fast.
“Arsenal’s hierarchy need to be firm and make a decision sooner rather than later. Don’t have meetings about meetings. Find the right manager who can sort this lot out, because Sunday’s performance was pitiful.”
Is Sutton being too harsh on Ljungberg?
No, not really.
Ljungberg was brought in to settle the ship after the departure of Emery and to ensure that the Gunners tick along to such an extent that they continue to appear attractive to potential new managers.
However, you have to say that he has completely failed to do that. In his five games in charge of the north London side, Ljungberg has been beaten twice, drawn twice and claimed just one win.
Even in those two draws – against Norwich City and Standard Liege – and in the win over West Ham United last week, his team looked absolutely woeful for much of the 90 minutes.
It does look like the Swede is out of his depth at the Emirates Stadium, as Sutton says. It might be harsh to say, but he needs to step back and a quality manager must be installed.
