Arsenal: Freddie Ljungberg proves time no object

Freddie Ljungberg is proving that he can manage Arsenal capably. As a result, in searching for a new manager, time should no concern.

A quick wrong decision is far more damaging than the right one delayed. In any walk of life, it is better to take your time and consider all options rather rushing into any eventuality simply because you have to make a decision. This is very much that philosophy Arsenal should hold in their search for a new head coach.

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

While Manchester United were hoodwinked into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and dived in without quite thinking about it and Spurs were ruthless but potentially stupid in hiring Jose Mourinho, the Gunners would be wise to take their time when it comes to hiring their next manager.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Now, that does not mean that you delay for delay’s sake. We have seen this club dilly and dally before, with painful consequences, especially in the transfer market. But it does mean that it would be better to wait six months to appoint the best manager rather than hiring the one that happens to be available this week.

This need for patience and careful consideration is only aided by interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg. While Arsenal’s position in the table is not the prettiest, they are in little danger of being relegated, while also are essentially out of the top-four running bar a miraculous run in the second half of the season.

What Monday night’s victory over West Ham United provided is space and time. The panic has subsided, at least temporarily, and the club know that they have a capable interim head coach in place, meaning there is no reason to rush a replacement.

Whether Ljungberg is able to take on the job full-time or not remains to be seen. He will have the opportunity to prove himself in the coming matches, however challenging they are. But even if he is not suitable as a long-term replacement for Emery, he can be a short-term fix, at least until the end of the season. And that is vital.

As reported by David Ornstein on Wednesday, Arsenal believe in Ljungberg’s capabilities to lead the team for the remainder of the season and are happy to have him at the helm until the summer. He also states that the club would rather wait until the summer for their number one choice, should there indeed be a number one choice, than rush into their second or third candidate now.

Time should be no object of concern for the Gunners. They must simply focus on appointing the best man for the job, no matter how long it takes. So, if they decided that Mikel Arteta is the man they want but he is unwilling to leave Manchester City until the end of the season, they should simply wait it out. They can announce the decision beforehand, if they wish, but the decision must be properly considered.

Ljungberg has proven that he can inspire the team and lead them forward, at least in the short term. As a result, that gives Arsenal time to get the right man to replace Unai Emery, and the right man, not the right time, is the utmost priority.