Dubai: Former Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg said Gunners’ coach Arsene Wenger deserves more credit for his handling of the club.
Arsenal look to secure their 17th consecutive Uefa Champions League qualification under Wenger if they can hold on to fourth position in the English Premier League (EPL) over the remaining three games.
However, Wenger, 64, has been criticised for failing to win a trophy in the last nine of his 18 years at the North London club, despite earlier winning three league titles and four FA Cups.
The Frenchman now has a chance to end the trophy drought in May 17th’s FA Cup final against Hull City, something Ljungberg hopes will spark a revival.
The 37-year-old Swede was part of Arsenal’s Invincibles squad that won the league unbeaten in 2003/04, and he also lifted the last title the Gunners’ won under Wenger — the FA Cup — in 2005.
Speaking to Gulf News on the sidelines of an Arsenal Soccer Schools clinic at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday, Ljungberg urged supporters to bear with Wenger. “Wenger has done great things for the club and that should be mentioned a bit more than the last nine years,” said Ljungberg.
“When we moved from Highbury to build the Emirates Stadium, it put a financial strain on the club and we couldn’t spend as much as we did before. Now the club is in a much better financial position because he’s played by the rules — so hopefully he can enjoy more success.”
Over the past three years, Arsenal have sold star-players; Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin Van Persie, but it’s only this season that they have begun replenishing the squad with similar quality in Mesut Ozil.
The Gunners led the EPL table for 20 of the 35 weeks so far this season but fell away towards the end of their campaign, with Wenger blamed for a lack of additions in the January transfer window. “Instead of selling, we bought this season and that showed intent and raised the belief of the squad. We dropped a bit at the end of the season but it shows we’re getting better.
“I would imagine he didn’t see the player he wanted in the January transfer window and he won’t buy someone just for the sake of it. But if we showed our financial muscles a bit more and added to the squad it would be amazing. I really want Arsene to be in charge of that and I think he’ll bring success back to the club.”
Despite playing lower ranked opposition in Hull City, Ljungberg warned the FA Cup final wouldn’t be easy.
“I remember the week before the 2003 FA Cup, we beat Southampton 7-0 in the league and then only beat them 1-0 in the final. It’s a totally different game. It’s a major final and it would just be nice for Arsenal fans not to have to hear about all the years without a trophy, so fingers crossed they will do it.”
Ljungberg also credited Wenger with revolutionising English football when he first joined Arsenal in 1996. “People said I shouldn’t go to England because it was all long balls, but he got the team to play it technical and on the floor and for that he deserves more credit.
“A high percentage of goals are scored when you win the ball back. If you have a total defence against you, it’s hard to score but our transition from defence to attack [on the counter] was very fast. Four quick passes on the floor from defence to attack and we would score. That was our big strength.”
