John Barnes doesn’t believe Arsenal will "make the same mistake" as Manchester United by offering Freddie Ljungberg the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
Earlier today (Sunday), the former midfielder took charge of his first game as the Gunners’ interim head coach following the sacking of Unai Emery, as his side came from behind to draw 2-2 at Norwich City.
Ljungberg is among the early frontrunners to get the job on a permanent basis, which would see him follow a similar path to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.
The Norweigan was given the job at United after an impressive run of results in temporary charge last season, but finds himself under pressure this campaign following a poor start.
And, speaking on beIN Sports, Barnes feels Arsenal will learn from the situation at Old Trafford, and go down a different route in their search for a new manager.
“Manchester United didn’t do it, they gave it to Ole, and Ole actually kept the job,” Barnes said.
“Will they do that with Freddie Ljungberg? If they give him the job between now and the end of the season and he has a good six, seven or eight games, I don’t think they’ll make that mistake, but I think he’ll be there till the end of the season.”
Asked whether he thought it was a mistake for United to appoint Solskjaer, Barnes replied: “I think it was, if they just based it on eight games, which I think they did. If they always felt like they were going to do that, then it’s not a mistake.
“But I don’t think they gave him the job to begin with feeling that in eight or 10 games they were going to give it to him.
“I think they (United) will have to look at that situation, and if I was Ole I would be a worried man, with Pochettino still being around.”
