Arsene Wenger warns Freddie Ljungberg he has until Christmas to prove he can be Arsenal boss or face axe
ARSENE WENGER has warned Freddie Ljungberg: Deliver by Christmas if you want the Arsenal job. The Gunners turned to the Swede — part of Wenger’s Invincibles side — after Unai Emery was sacked last week. He took charge for the first time in the 2-2 draw at Norwich on Sunday and Wenger reckons Ljungberg has […]
ARSENE WENGER has warned Freddie Ljungberg: Deliver by Christmas if you want the Arsenal job.
The Gunners turned to the Swede — part of Wenger’s Invincibles side — after Unai Emery was sacked last week.
He took charge for the first time in the 2-2 draw at Norwich on Sunday and Wenger reckons Ljungberg has a maximum of SIX games to stake his claim.
Wenger said: “I support Freddie but if he cannot stabilise the team in five to six games then the club has to go for somebody who has experience.
“It can become dangerous because you don’t want to go down further — because after 14 games they are a distance from the top four.”
The Frenchman, speaking at an event for the charity Grief Encounter, revealed he would not be making a dramatic return.
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He said: “I wasn’t asked back. I’ve given 22 years of my life to that club, I gave my brain, my body and my heart.
“My heart is still at the club but they don’t need my brain or body anymore — so I keep suffering when we don’t do well.”
Referee chief Mike Riley recently backed Wenger to make VAR work in his new role as Fifa’s new chief of global football development.
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Among the former Arsenal manager’s responsibilities will be a role as Fifa’s lead man on changes made by the game’s law-making body the International FA Board.
Wenger makes his first Ifab appearance at their annual business meeting in Belfast next month.
And under-pressure Riley believes he can be a key ally in sorting out global VAR issues.
