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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Mark Jones

Arsene Wenger's lesson to Freddie Ljungberg on how to treat Arsenal players

Freddie Ljungberg is highly likely to lean on his experiences with Arsene Wenger as he gets to grips with his new job as Arsenal's interim manager.

The Swede was named as the new temporary boss on Friday following the sacking of Unai Emery, who had been presiding over the Gunners' worst run of form for 27 years.

Thursday night's 2-1 loss at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League made it seven successive games without a win, and the axe fell on the former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain boss around 12 hours later.

Ljungberg is an extremely popular figure with the club's players having been promoted from his role with the under-23s prior to this season.

Ljungberg played under Wenger at Arsenal (Daily Mirror)

In that previous position he presided over Arsenal's campaign in the Checkatrade Trophy, and it was after a heavy 6-2 loss to Cheltenham Town in October last year that Ljungberg revealed some advice Wenger gave him on criticising players.

“First of all I told them, quite sternly, that that’s what happens in a game like this," Ljungberg told the Evening Standard after a match in which Robbie Burton was sent off.

"Then I tried to explain to them a little the mistakes we’d made.

Emery was sacked on Thursday night (Action Images via Reuters)

“But often after a game - maybe I was told by Arsene a bit - (you realise) you don’t always see the correct things on the bench.

"Before I go and point fingers at players I like to go and see the videos because there could be different angles.

Ljungberg has taken charge on an interim (JAGADEESH NV/EPA-EFE/REX)

“I like to be clear if I want to make a point to someone. I try to be calm after games and have a discussion 24-48 hours later.”

The Gunners' first-team will hope that Ljungberg has little need for this approach in his new role, as the club target an upturn in form.

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