Arsenal were guilty of a lack of desire and Freddie Ljungberg was lucky to see his side draw 2-2 with Standard Liege in the Europa League on Thursday, claims Martin Keown.
Needing to simply avoid a 5-0 defeat to qualify for the next stage, the Gunners found themselves trailing 2-0 after 69 minutes as they were made to pay for defensive lapses.
"One thing you need when you’re a manager is luck and Freddie Ljungberg was very lucky tonight," Keown said on BT Sport .
"The game changed when [Gabriel] Martinelli came off the bench tonight – 69th minute, a young player, a desire and a work-rate you’d expect from the senior players.
"I didn’t see a role model in that team. He came on and changed it. The older players were a long time getting to that level for Arsenal.
"I think Freddie Ljungberg should have kept it simple. He should have played a back four, pretty much the same team he played the other night.
"There was too many changes. We need to get back the desire and hunger from the players. And while Freddie is in charge, he should be implementing that change at Arsenal."
Ljungberg fielded a new-look starting side on Thursday with Keown adamant that so many changes were a mistake and a step back under their interim manager.
"I was so disappointed with the lack of desire and hunger from the team. Keep it simple," he continued.
"As a young coach I wouldn’t have even bothered going to a back three. I wouldn’t have been certain I understood it well enough.
"I would have picked the same players to say, 'When you work with me you work hard, you’re not staying back home relaxing, this is now about work ethic'.
"There needs to be a change in mood. That’s gone from Freddie, he’s limped through tonight. You can’t turn a tap on and off so quickly. But they’re going to be seeded, so that’s really good news."
Arsenal are next in action against Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday with the Gunners currently sitting ninth in the Premier League.
kokbdmnru
0
Arsenal player lack aggressive of score goals
zehbinuy
0
Y is gunners so lackluster Y don't they start playing attacking soccer. Stop playing from the back. Play long balls to the strikers in front. The strikers are falling asleep keep them on their toes.
kopkoyz
0
if Martin keown thinks he knows better why cant he come a be ar arsenal coach for a game than sitting on the chair making comments
Liberties85
1
Can’t argue with a man who died for his shirt on the pitch.. today’s players are lazy and money matters more than winning!!
Yahailoty
0
freddy have seen the team from the inside so let him do his thing we must give him support
Lomdikm
0
Keown is somehow right but he might think about Sunday's match against Man.City.I think Freddie chose to rest the senior players. But what is lacking to the Arsenal players is the hunger to win the game and the tempo during the game.
Eietheherd
0
No ... keown is right, look at us this season, we are a very lazy team.. West Ham we poor.. we only started playing against liege when we were 2-0 down.. keown always have 100 per cent.. he played for the badge!!
Gpobum
0
is not force to get hungry man
What is with the iTunes card here?
Maybcnost
0
[image]
Wait and see if the Arsenal won't win your head😝
Maybcnost
0
What is the matter with this old Gunner Martin Keown for God's sake. What does he mean by saying the Arsenal were guilty of lack of desire? As if when he was a player he too always had the desire in all of the matches he played. Must the boys play with their hearts in their mouths before he accepts they are picking up gradually...instead of encouraging the Gunners, he like his peers have been pulling the players down with their poisonous comments.
Rick_26
1
Biabkmou
1
I don't believe you. Thank you but you got it wrong this time. We on track thank you. EPL is vital and we far away, in my opinion its wose to rest your best player cos we playing Man City and we far away in EPL than in Europa where we top of the group, so the risk has to be measured well to prevent injuries, mind you we have injuries problems with our best defenders, why risk the better ones now? Go away!
topewest
1
very Right but it has started since Wenger started using all his grand children to play football they just want to shine and elevate to another team no more passion for trophy.
checkup
1
as far as I'm concern,There's no difference btw emery nd Freddie, same gamble..
Mancborn
0
supporting is one of the 99ways to die
Arsenal*
Ampasixty
0
is not force to get hungry man
Ermmm...what’s going on here😒😒
zohnopty
6
Shut up, go and coach let's see how u will perform,lundberg is working with the players he have, average players
emondorock
1
I hope Man City have eaten before the Arsenal clash.
lauracamp
0
supporting is one of the 99ways to die
lauracamp
0
babe I got u
would you get me the $200 iTunes gift card baby ?
pikabdmnst
0
is not force to get hungry man
babe I got u
lauracamp
0
is not force to get hungry man
Don-Val
1
Lack of hunger?