Arsenal: Freddie Ljungberg’s first move a brilliant one

Freddie Ljungberg has made his first decision at Arsenal, and I think it’s safe to say we should all be pretty happy with it. He’s thinking long-term already.

Just earlier today I found myself talking about what Freddie Ljungberg needed to do during the early stages of his reign at Arsenal. It’s yet unknown if he will continue on as manager, but he will undoubtedly be given a chance to prove himself, even if the club are shopping for a handful of other managers.

One of my criteria for Ljungberg, who used to head up this youth outfit, was the continue Unai Emery’s precedent of playing the kids. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Joe Willock in particular were favorites under Emery and I loved it. We all did.

Ljungberg looks to have decided to do one better, not just focusing on the youth talent has, but expanding the crop of what’s available to him. In his first real roster move since taking over as manager, Ljungberg has promoted Tyreece John-Jules to the first team for training.

It may not seem like a big deal, and maybe it isn’t. It may literally be nothing. But as a new manager of a club who wants to hire for the long-term, having your first move be the promotion of a young English international striker is a great start.

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There are plenty of other youngsters that are in need of time too—Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson, for instance.

But with Eddie Nketiah serving a frustrating loan at Leeds United, the lack of a youth striker (unless Ljungberg believes that Martinelli can play centrally) has been a minor inconvenience. Martinelli has deputized, bust mostly it’s just been down to Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to hold down the fort.

John-Jules may be a premature indication of who Ljungberg is ready to turn to when the need arises. Or, if Aubameyang doesn’t end up extending his contract and is sold this summer, asking Lacazette to team up with Nketiah and John-Jules is still a fearsome and exciting place to be.

Again, it’s still not clear why he was promoted, but I like the precedent being set. His first move is to promote a new youngster. Hell. Yeah.

We’ve been singing the praises of John-Jules for awhile, so maybe this was also just a matter of time. Whatever the case, it’s something new and nice to be excited about.