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Arsenal Vs Standard Liege: 5 things we learned – Here come Freddie’s youngsters

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LIEGE, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 12: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with teammate Alexandre Lacazette during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Standard Liege and Arsenal FC at Stade Maurice Dufrasne on December 12, 2019 in Liege, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
LIEGE, BELGIUM - DECEMBER 12: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with teammate Alexandre Lacazette during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Standard Liege and Arsenal FC at Stade Maurice Dufrasne on December 12, 2019 in Liege, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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LIEGE, BELGIUM – DECEMBER 12: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Alexandre Lacazette during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Standard Liege and Arsenal FC at Stade Maurice Dufrasne on December 12, 2019 in Liege, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
LIEGE, BELGIUM – DECEMBER 12: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Alexandre Lacazette during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Standard Liege and Arsenal FC at Stade Maurice Dufrasne on December 12, 2019 in Liege, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /

Arsenal travelled to Standard Liege to close out the Europa League group stage on Thursday night. Here are five things we learned from the 2-2 draw.

As has become customary for Arsenal this season, they toiled to a difficult draw with a lesser team thanks to a largely underwhelming performance splintered by a ten-minute explosion that featured some of their best play in some time. Freddie Ljungberg’s young side travelled to Standard Liege hoping to lay down an offensive marker. The pitch had other ideas, but thanks to Alexandre Lacazette and some Bukayo Saka, they were able to rescue a 2-2 draw and, coupled with Eintracht Frankfurt’s defeat, top the group.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — A Christmas Miracle

Here are five things we learned.

LIEGE, BELGIUM – DECEMBER 12: Interim Manager of Arsenal, Freddie Ljungberg looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League group F match between Standard Liege and Arsenal FC at Stade Maurice Dufrasne on December 12, 2019 in Liege, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
LIEGE, BELGIUM – DECEMBER 12: Interim Manager of Arsenal, Freddie Ljungberg looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League group F match between Standard Liege and Arsenal FC at Stade Maurice Dufrasne on December 12, 2019 in Liege, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /

5. Freddie’s favourites reveal themselves

As is often the case when a match in a lesser competition is next on the schedule, the thinking of interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg was unveiled that bit more on Thursday night, especially regarding the pecking order of the players at certain positions.

Gabriel Martinelli was rested while Alexandre Lacazette started up-front. Matteo Guendouzi has seemingly slipped behind both Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira in central midfield, while Calum Chambers is now the number one centre-half with both David Luiz and Sokratis starting here.

Whether this will be the case for the remainder of Ljungberg’s tenure or not remains to be seen. This is only his fourth game in charge. He is allowed to change his mind. And with a packed festive period on the horizon, there will, of course, be an element of rotation that enters his selections also. Nevertheless, if you wanted a peek into Freddie’s thinking when he first inherited the team, this was the greatest peeling back of the curtain.