Arsenal remain “a huge mess”, says Charlie Nicholas, with Freddie Ljungberg not considered to be a suitable candidate to succeed Unai Emery after making some baffling selection calls against Norwich.
Nicholas is not convinced that anything has changed since Emery was ushered through the exits, with questions asked of the decision to field Granit Xhaka, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Shkodran Mustafi and David Luiz in a 2-2 draw away at Norwich.
“They had a bit more spike about them at the weekend but Freddie, why are you picking Shkodran Mustafi?” former Arsenal striker Nicholas told Sky Sports.
“When are you going to learn about Calum Chambers? I also cannot understand how David Luiz is in the team. He just doesn't want to run. He is only interested when he gets the ball at his feet.
“Sokratis Papastathopoulos is a shocker and Mustafi is even worse. Granit Xhaka also cannot run.
“It is such a huge mess. I honestly thought Freddie would not be close to getting the job, but now, I do not know how long he will have in charge. In the end, it may not be their No.1 target who they end up getting.
“Regarding Freddie's selection, what have you done there that was different to Unai Emery? I didn't get it. It might be his first pick, but could also be who he has got fit.
“Bringing in Joe Willock I understood, but the re-introduction of Xhaka baffled me. Mesut Ozil wanted the ball and wanted to get into the pockets of space, he was decent again. There is an enthusiasm about Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“This is about Arsenal getting back on the winning trail and trying to threaten the top six, and potentially the top four. They need to ramp up the action. The manager has gone and they need results and a winning formula.”
Nivethan
0
play this line-up and teams will start fearing us
[image]
martinelli
Kezdlmpruy
0
I prefer sokratis and mustafi or holding than David luiz, pls bench himoooo
Australia9135487
0
Nichols was worse than what we currently have don’t give advice.
bricoaxa-i
1
play this line-up and teams will start fearing us
wiuklostz
0
David Luiz has come and topped them both!
Niyamprty
0
we want koulibaly
OCAR
1
All defenders should be sold except for tirny
FaithEvans
0
Stopped reading when he said Özil was decent, a world champion, earning more than Henry, Van Persie and Fabregas here combined, playing decent against Norwich, all chances created from taking corners and indirect freekicks, matter of fact, Xhaka and Guendouzi were our best midfielders in that game, and they were pretty average!
Voeaeknr
2
nunberz
0
All defenders might be removed and let just only 1. Holding 2. Tierney 3. Mavropanos 4. Hector Bellerin or Maitland-Niles for the defence Midfielders 1. Lucas Toreira 2. Mesut Ozil 3. Mateo Guendouzi who needs to be taught to release the ball 4. Ceballos Forwards 1. Aubameyang 2. Lacazette 3. Nicolas Pepe The young should be substuters 1. Saka 2. Martinelli 3. Willock
ozil no...and willock to change quickly or he should be released ..he looks obsessed playing in 1st team and delivering rubbish..not smart at all to take opportunity he has now..he will cry when new coach comes in and spot his laziness
nunberz
0
below par/mediocre defenders on huge pay packet...they know cant go anywhere to get such huge salary...Sokratis or Mustafi..just fake defenders...what is in Arsenal now basically is not about coaching or lack of tactics but we have very poor players...good players are may be 5 and 5 young ones...the rest need to be shipped out to mid table clubs
Tebikrtuy
1
We are going to destroy all teams
Tebikrtuy
0
Boom boom xhaka ask DE gear we miss u, emery confused ure play with your wrong tactics of ply back ball in stead of going forward they are going backward
Tebikrtuy
0
Ja emery destroy ur team truly bt middfld I trust troera, xhaka ozil, pepe meang this guy they know each other very well and they know hw to pass the ball, remember ozil is key pass, assist and xhaka fire,. While is far troera helping defensive. Guendouz he must Bench he play 25 game no goal, 1 assets hi nid to train abit
RASTAJAMES
0
when you have this kind of defender what to do you we have more good defender like vvd or someone else
Lomdikm
0
Xhaka will never bring something to the team even Luiz and Chambers Sokratis is a fighter unfortunately so slow with the oponents count-attacks
withersea1
0
Agreed!!! We need British defenders, asap!
Tebikrtuy
0
I believe in Freddie we will come back soon only dat the play are
Lomdikm
2
All defenders might be removed and let just only 1. Holding 2. Tierney 3. Mavropanos 4. Hector Bellerin or Maitland-Niles for the defence Midfielders 1. Lucas Toreira 2. Mesut Ozil 3. Mateo Guendouzi who needs to be taught to release the ball 4. Ceballos Forwards 1. Aubameyang 2. Lacazette 3. Nicolas Pepe The young should be substuters 1. Saka 2. Martinelli 3. Willock
Tebikrtuy
0
Nicholas u are not right if u remember that time u nai was winng nice he was using xhaka, ozil, troera and iwobi nw we nid xhaka, ozil, troera and pep
Darmendra21
1
Demiral
Nocdekmprt
0
I personally don't think strongly that Ljungberg would be a long term syccessor of Emery's but I hope that he'd be able bring about something different. We need Arsenal to get back their psyche and traditional approach-the system that identifies Arsenal. This is what we need to begin to see then we can look for a long term manager I think that Freddie has got something to offer in this regard. Let's support him and his team for the few games and weeks and see what happens. He's just in an interim capacity so let's not start distracting from day one.
wuwadetz
0
The who defence of Arsenal consisting of David Luiz, Mustafi, Chambers and Sokratis need to be sold in January instead of them continuing to let us the fans go through misery week in week out. It is better to bring in the small boys from under23 team than to have those guys in Arsenal's defence. They are completely useless
Nocdekmprt
0
Nicholas : you are right because mustafi ,chamber , ozil and willock they could played anything and they should remain in bench , January arsenal should offload them to go on transfer
Nicholas praised Ozil please, read his comment once more
Dawacdrz
1
Please don't make us open our mouths abt Arsenal again...!!
jihaikors
2
socratis and mustaphi are useles
KevinAbraham
0
this mustafi totally poor ,arsenal is wick at defense why dont you play 5 defense 3 midfiel and 2 striker and start martineli alongside auba
kokbdmnru
3
Nicholas : you are right because mustafi ,chamber , ozil and willock they could played anything and they should remain in bench , January arsenal should offload them to go on transfer
VanishPrasad
2
Bit they are the GOATs of defence.
lord_henry-14
0
they are below average defenders they should play in a league