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How bad does a team have to be to not embrace the new manager bounce? When one awful managerial tenure ends, it’s often the case that the team picks up form after the new manager takes the reins. But Arsenal have shown absolutely no sign of improvement.
A 2-2 draw with Norwich and an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton have left the Arsenal faithful feeling hopeless. Freddie Ljungberg’s audition for the vacant Arsenal position couldn’t have started any worse, with the Gunners stretching their winless streak to nine games.
Many a fan would argue that this has happened because the Swede hasn’t changed much from his predecessor’s reign. It’s the same players employing the same tactics, so why would you expect anything to be different?
For Arsenal to turn their season around with the interim manager, some bold changes need to be made. Here are three that Freddie Ljungberg must make:
#3 Start Calum Chambers at CB
In the summer, Arsenal allegedly ‘won the transfer window.’ We’re now in December and no one can confidently say the Gunners’ squad is better than last season.
Everyone knew that defensively Arsenal were weak and needed serious reinforcements. Josh Kroenke translated that need into the buying of David Luiz, a serial Premier League winner.
Oh, how the fans would be wishing they could turn back time. The Brazilian’s presence in the team has notably made things less stable, especially bringing out the worst in his partner Sokratis.
If Ljungberg is to have any chance of securing a long-term deal as a manager, he must make the right decision for Arsenal’s defence. Calum Chambers has not been given a fair shot at CB; instead, he’s been made to cover at RB for the then injured Hector Bellerin.
Chambers' only appearance as a CB this season was in the Gunners’ first away match, in which they kept one of only their two clean sheets this season. The 24-year-old deserves his chance, and quite frankly, can he do any worse than what’s currently starting?
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#2 Implement Counter-Pressing
Pressing from the front is a key attribute of any great team. If you analyse the best teams to walk the planet, they all pressed as a unit in cohesion.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team are the prime example of how when you have the whole team pressing together, it can be insufferable for opposing teams.
In the Premier League, you have to choose to be either organised or intense. Arsenal have naively found themselves adopting neither strategy, thus resulting in 15 years without a league title.
The interim Arsenal boss must now completely change the team’s lacklustre approach off the ball. Often you see players strolling around while opposing teams calmly pass around them. Put quite simply, that’s not good enough, as what players do off the ball is just as important as what they do on it.
This approach needs the whole team on board. If not, inconsistent gaps will appear, thus making it even easier to play through the Gunners.
#1 Drop Alexandre Lacazette
In what world does it make sense for last year’s Golden Boot winner to play out wide for a man whose best return for a PL season is 14 goals?
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang has suffered for much of this season by being made to spend time on the wing. The Gabonese international is clearly not a winger, and puts in his best performances through the middle like the striker he is.
When Unai Emery first came in last season, he publicly announced to the world that he would not be starting both Alexandre Lacazette and Aubameyang together. Fast forward a few weeks and he was forced to, at the detriment of the Golden Boot winner.
The 42-year-old must now make the bold decision to drop the Frenchman, in order to restore balance to Arsenal’s discombobulated attack. Currently the Gunners are heavily reliant on the 30-year-old’s goals, and playing him out on the wing does not help the pressure on him either.
