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Football London
Football London
Sport
Robert Warlow

Arsenal news: Brendan Rodgers hint, former Liverpool man's warning, the manager the Gunners need

It may have been a new man in the dugout, but it was a similar story for Arsenal as they drew 2-2 with Norwich City in the Premier League yesterday (Sunday).

The Gunners played their first match since Unai Emery was sacked by the club on Friday, with two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helping the north London side come from behind twice to pick up a point at Carrow Road.

Interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg admitted after the game that there were things to work on after struggling at times against the lowly Canaries, who are 19th in the Premier League table.

But how long will Ljungberg have to work with the players?

We take a look at the latest in the search for a permanent successor to Emery, below.

Brendan Rodgers contract hint

The search for Unai Emery's permanent successor continues for Arsenal.

Freddie Ljungberg is the interim head coach following the Spaniard's exit, although he has been coy over his prospects of taking the job long term, insisting that he was only focused on doing what he can to help the club.

But one name in the frame is Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers, who has been speaking about the speculation linking him with Arsenal.

And he has not denied that there could be a release clause in his contract, which has got Arsenal fans talking .

Speaking after his side's 2-1 win against Everton yesterday (Sunday), Rodgers was asked about whether there is a stipulation in his contract which would allow him to leave for a bigger club.

In reply, he told Sky Sports: "Listen, there probably is (a clause) in most manager’s contracts.

"It is all hypothetical, with these types of situations.

“Most managers contracts will have something in that, but for me, my only concentration is on Leicester."

However, his comments sparked a reaction from Arsenal fans and pundits alike, with Chris Sutton adding that he would be concerned if he were a Leicester fan.

Freddie Ljungberg's first press conference as Arsenal boss in full

Jamie Carragher's warning

Rodgers may have said he is focused on Leicester, but he did not directly rule out a move to Arsenal in his post-match interview after Leicester's win against Everton.

The former Liverpool and Celtic manager's hint over a release clause in his contract has fuelled speculation that Arsenal could look to make a move to appoint him as Emery's successor.

However, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists that Rodgers should stay put, and not even consider a move to north London.

"Now at the moment Leicester sit second in the table and they won the Premier League a few years ago, but we'd be lying if we said Leicester were one of the top teams or clubs in the country," Carragher said, speaking to Sky Sports.

"I don't even think it's right if Brendan Rodgers is thinking about moving to Arsenal right now."

Find out what else Carragher had to say here.

The manager Arsenal need

Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes a culture change is needed at Arsenal.

The Gunners drew 2-2 with struggling Norwich City yesterday (Sunday), with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice to help Arsenal take home a point from Carrow Road.

But Jenas said Arsenal need more steel in the squad, adding that is something a new manager will need to instil in the players.

Speaking on BBC programme Match of the Day 2, he said: "Somewhere over the years they have lost that. Arsenal now have players who are obsessed with playing football rather than doing the ugly side of the game. 

"Going forward in the first half an hour of that game Arsenal looked brilliant going forward. They were passing it around and were creative.

"You just look at that game [against Norwich] though, and know they are going to cave at some point. Maybe a different type of manager is what they need to look at."

Meanwhile, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown added that the Gunners need more direction, having been critical of how things are going currently at his old club.

"We need a manager with charisma and who can communicate, we haven't really had that," he said.

"The message needs to be better from the club full stop."

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