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Football London
Football London
Sport
Lee Wilmot & Art De Roche

What Freddie Ljungberg said about being Arsenal manager amid reports he could replace Unai Emery

Freddie Ljungberg has already been promoted once this season.

And the former Arsenal midfielder could soon be in line for another one.

The Swede made the step up from Arsenal academy manager to become Unai Emery's number two for the first team.

He is a highly-valued member of the backroom set-up at the Emirates and was promoted to the first team following his fine work with the youngsters.

But with head coach Emery coming under increasing pressure at the helm, following a poor start to the Premier League season, Ljungberg could find himself with a shot at the top job soon enough.

He is one of the favourites to take over should Raul Sanllehi and Vinai Venkatesham pull the trigger on Emery's time at the club.

Ljungberg has overseen the development of young stars like Bukayo Saka and Joe Willock during his time at the club, with the pair going on to make an impact on the first team, and that ld be seen as a positive from the Arsenal supporters keen to see the youngsters given more of a role.

While plenty have talked about those who could replace Emery, should he leave the club, Ljungberg has naturally remained quiet on his boss' future.

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But he has mentioned becoming manager of the club before.

In an interview following a Checkatrade Trophy game last season, Ljungberg was asked about the young players and their development following a 6-2 defeat at the hands of League Two side Cheltenham Town.

He said: "Of course we’re disappointed but we have to look at the positives. It’s the youth team. Maybe if I was a first team manager, I’d be screaming and shouting but we have to be focused and see what we can learn.

"We tried to play out from the back because that’s what a youth team player has to learn.

"I don’t want them to just boot it forward for a better result, they have to learn so they’re ready when they go up to the first team. But we might have to change how we do that under pressure."

Playing out from the back under pressure is something Emery's side have been criticised for on more than one occasion this season and it seems Ljungberg is already ahead of the game in terms of trying to rectify that problem.

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