Arsenal: Freddie Ljungberg no bad contingency

Per Charles Watts of Goal, there is an expectation around the club that Arsenal will fire Unai Emery, with Freddie Ljungberg taking over until the end of the season. While that may not be the ideal solution, it is certainly no bad contingency.

It seems though it could be all change at Arsenal. While Unai Emery remains the head coach at present, the pressure is mounting, and the expectation that change will come is only rising.

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Charles Watts of Goal reported on Tuesday that many people at the club expect Emery to be sacked in the near future, the question of his role in north London one of when, not if. In his report, one source stated:

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"“It’s about results and we are not getting them. It just feels like a matter of time. It’s not like the club is on its knees or anything. The mood is still pretty good, but you are now just waiting to be told the news.”"

Watts also reports on potential successors for Emery, commenting on what the team’s plans might be as they look to move into the new era. Per Watts, the club sees two primary targets that the club will eventually pursue, but notes that neither will be available until the end of the season.

Both Massimiliano Allegri and Mikel Arteta are current frontrunners to take on the head coaching role at the club at some point, but neither, per Watts, are interested in taking the position until next summer, even though Allegri is currently out of work after leaving Juventus at the end of last season.

This manner of replacing Emery would see current first-team assistant coach Freddie Ljungberg take on temporary head coaching duties until the end of the season, similar to what Manchester United conducted with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho last season. United may currently be ruing that decision, but that does not mean the initial plan was the wrong one. Their problems started once they committed to Solskjaer long-term. Arsenal would not make the same mistake with Ljungberg.

In fact, if the Swede was to be hired as purely a stop-gap solution to see the season out while a detailed, comprehensive search for a long-term manager was undertaken behind the scenes, it could benefit Arsenal greatly. Not only would Ljungberg provide a nice boost in the absence of the beleaguered Emery, his connection with the club and players vital over a short period of time; his presence would free up the club to make an informed and insightful appointment.

Like with Solskjaer, there would be little pressure on Ljungberg to reach the top four or make much headway while in charge. Expectations would be low and the team would be freed up to express themselves. They might finally attack, for a change. Meanwhile, the groundwork for the new project can be installed. It would not be a problem if they even announced the new manager before the end of the season.

What comes of Emery now seems like a formality. He will be fired, at some point. But what happens after is infinitely more significant. That will impact the club’s prospects more than Emery leaving ever will, and starting with Ljungberg in a temporary role would be no bad contingency.