da prosport bet： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
da bet7： If you were living under a rock for these past few weeks, and then saw Arsenal’s dismal 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Thursday night, you would be forgiven for thinking that Unai Emery was still in charge.
The Gunners looked every bit as bad as they have done all season, but this time it was Freddie Ljungberg who was the man in the dugout. And whilst it was only the Swede’s second game in charge of the north London side, the signs do not look good at all for either his, or his club’s prospects.
And quite simply, he has made mistakes befitting of his Spanish predecessor – none more so perhaps than the way he set his team up. Despite facing a side at home who were in the bottom half of the table heading into the game, Ljungberg appeared to be overly cautious with the way he wanted his team to play. Joe Willock’s inclusion in the starting line-up for the second game running was another sign of his faith in youth, but it was a selection that certainly didn’t help the Gunners. If anything, it actually hindered them.
The Arsenal boss peculiarly decided once again that Mesut Ozil would be better off playing on the flank, and this time from the left-hand side, leaving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to play from the right. Whilst the intention of using Willock to press the ball high up the pitch is entirely understandable, the Gunners desperately needed a play-maker with the ability to stitch things together. They weren’t playing one of the so-called top teams where possession is at a premium. It was therefore no surprise to see the north London side’s attack look completely disjointed as they have done this entire season. As per Sofascore, they managed just two shots on target in the first-half, before substitutions and tactical switches helped bridge the gap a little.
But at one point in the first-half, Willock appeared to be playing as a second striker, and even ahead of Alexandre Lacazette. Playing Mesut Ozil in the number ten role, and then perhaps having Aubameyang from the left, or up front alongside the Frenchman would have made so much more sense. Instead, Ljungberg borrowed one Emery’s worst traits by setting his team up completely wrong before the match had even begun.
Meanwhile, Arsenal can’t afford to make this huge gamble by appointing this man.