FREDDIE LJUNGBERG is taking it one game at a time as Arsenal’s caretaker manager but hasn’t ruled out staying long-term.
After Unai Emery was sacked as the Gunners’ boss, former midfielder Ljungberg was drafted in to oversee Sunday’s game at Norwich.
Ljungberg will have Per Mertesacker for company in the dugout tomorrowCredit: Getty – Contributor
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Fans will hope for an immediate turnaround to the dreadful form experienced under Emery and producing such a bounce may set Ljungberg on course for the job full-time.
The Swede told Sky Sports: “There is no indication how long or how short.
“For me I concentrate on the players, we have a game tomorrow and try to do the best I can. I was proud, honoured that they thought about me.
“It is such an important thing, trust in me to deliver that. I felt excitement because I feel we have some very very good footballers here.”
After tomorrow’s trip to Carrow Road, Arsenal have a favourable set of games that sees them take on Brighton, West Ham and Standard Liege.
And Ljungberg has insisted his focus is only on the short-term despite refusing to rule out a longer stay in the dugout.
He added: “For me, it’s about the team and the club.
“I try to concentrate for the future, the game tomorrow, we’ll try to win that.
“Maybe there’s a few other games, we’ll see. But for me that’s what I look at, other stuff is totally irrelevant.”
In almost a decade at the club as a player, Ljungberg won a pair of Premier League titles and three FA Cups – making his time in the hotseat a very special one.
The 42-year-old said: “It’s a great, great honour, that’s how I feel. I feel this energy inside of me and it’s special.
“There is sadness with what’s happened to the club and where we are, [but] then excitement with what we can do in the future.”
As a former player who return to the Gunners as a coach just over a year ago, Ljungberg knows the club inside out.
The same can be said for another ex-midfielder touted for a return to Arsenal, Gilberto Silva.
The Brazilian admitted to being flattered by the speculation on Saturday morning, telling Soccer AM: “For me, as an ex-player, it is amazing when there is some link to the club.
“Let’s see. This was a surprise for me despite the fact I am back in England and follow the club closely.
“There hasn’t been any contact. I don’t know if it will happen now but maybe in the future.
“At the moment, I can tell you there is nothing in place.”
How Arsenal could line-up under Freddie Ljungberg at Norwich
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
