Freddie Ljungberg says he does not want Arsenal manager’s job as he prepares to take charge at Norwich
FREDDIE LJUNGBERG revealed he has no immediate desire to become permanent Arsenal manager.
But the Swede insists he can eradicate the toxic atmosphere that had engulfed the Emirates before Unai Emery’s sacking.
The Gunners’ new temporary boss takes charge of his first match at Norwich today following Emery’s Friday dismissal.
The 42-year-old, who was part of Arsenal’s famous Invincibles as a player, declared: “It’s a great honour.
“I want to do as well as I can for this fantastic club. I feel excitement and I’ll try to do a good job.
“I’m here to help the club as much as I possibly can, to try to get a good atmosphere around the club and with the supporters.
“If you play good football and have a good result, there’s nothing better to raise spirits.
“I am confident I can do that, otherwise I wouldn’t have taken it when they asked me to help.
“I really feel this club can be brought together — to put some smiles on people’s faces again.
“That’s what I’m focusing on and then we’ll see in the future.
“I’m learning the trade. It’s an honour the club thinks I’m ready to take this big responsibility but there is no indication of how long or short, I’m just taking it game by game.
“We’ll try to win Sunday’s game and if there are a few other games, we’ll see.
“All the other stuff is just totally irrelevant.”
Ljungberg has been at the club for 20 years — nine of them as a player — and is well thought of inside the Emirates following his success as Under-23s coach before being promoted to Emery’s No 2 this season.
In an interview with Arsenal.com, he added: “Of course small things will change.
“But I’m not going to do anything radical because that’s not the best thing to do.
“I’m not going to smash things up, make massive changes. But I’m quite clear with what I want.
“I like entertaining football but, at the same time, you can’t concede goals. That’s a tricky balance to find.
“For me, happy footballers play the best football. I learnt that as a player.
“There is a time to work hard but we need to enjoy what we’re doing.
“Our players enjoy offensive football which makes them happy.”
Ljungberg will have German World Cup winner and ex-Arsenal skipper Per Mertesacker as his No 2 at Carrow Road today.
The pair took training at London Colney yesterday.
But Ljungberg refused to confirm whether Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be captain, nor what he said to the players when he addressed them after taking over.
Ljungberg said: “What I say in the dressing room always stays there.
“We have some great players but we’ve had some problems. We haven’t had good results and that’s what we’ve got to try to address. But how we address that, I’ll keep to myself.”
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Ljungberg’s Invincibles team-mate Gilberto Silva has been linked with a move back to the Emirates to join the coaching staff.
But the Brazilian, 43, yesterday said he has not had any discussions with the club.
Gilberto told Soccer AM: “Let’s see. This was a surprise for me — despite the fact I am back in England and follow the club closely.
“There hasn’t been any contact. I don’t know if it will happen now — but maybe in the future.
“At the moment, I can tell you there is nothing in place.”