Freddie has come to town, and with him is Per Mertesacker, our BFG. Both ex players of Arsenal; the two have been hired to carry out an emergency operation on an already dead Arsenal team. They started their campaign with a draw against Norwich, but trust me; they will do better with time. They can only do better.
What did I notice against Norwich? I noticed a coaching crew wanting to be as close as possible to the players. I was impressed with how Per seemed to be talking to the players on the bench, like they were discussing how to win the game. Ljungberg to me looks like a lovable fellow and I am very sure his charm will rub off fine on the players. Being coached by legends is something every player will cherish.
We all know how influential Mertesacker and Ljungberg were as football players; now is the time for us to find out if they can easily be influential as coaches.
Freddie being an effective attacking player during his time can work closely with both the midfield and attack of the team. Players like Saka, Pepe, Willock and Nelson, will surely learn a lot from him on the training ground. He should be able to teach them when to run, when to shoot and when to dribble or pass the ball to your nearest man. Scoring of goals seems to be our latest problem at the club; Freddie should be able to sort that out. He should be able to share a meal or two with the players, share in their celebrations and tribulations. His knowledge of how Arsenal works should help out when negotiating for a better package for his players and his team. Being a legend, he should be able to make the players understand what playing for Arsenal means.
Mertesacker has also been a leader on the pitch, right from his playing days. He and our recently departed French defender Laurent Koscielny, formed a good understanding off and on the pitch, and this helped us in keeping 13 clean sheets some seasons ago. Per is a good motivator; I have heard stories of how he has been a peacemaker in the past at Arsenal. Per should be able to work with the defenders in the team, see how he can be of help in bringing defensive improvement and stability to the team. As a former Arsenal defender, his experience will eventually rub off on the defenders in the team, if they are willing to learn.
In essence, what I am trying to do is to explain to Arsenal fans why I feel we should give the coaches ample time to turn things around in the team, even if it may lead to us missing out on the top four. Can I have a second in the house please?
Sylvester (Lagos Gooner)