Freddie Ljungberg explains quitting Arsenal in August | OneFootball

Freddie Ljungberg has lifted the lid on leaving Arsenal last season.

After Unai Emery was sacked in November 2019, Ljungberg took over for a spell.

He managed Arsenal for six games, winning one, drawing three and losing two before Mikel Arteta was given the job.

Ljungberg had been a huge part of their coaching staff, taking charge of various age groups including the under-15 and under-23 squads.

But in August he departed, insisting that he wanted to spread his managerial wings elsewhere.

“What changed on a match day was that I would sit up in the stand to look down. I'd have an earpiece with the bench," Ljungberg clarifies.

“I would say how the opponents pressed.

"If there was a hole somewhere, if one of their players was not holding the line, if we should attack on that side or we're having a problem with something, our player isn't doing what we've coached in the week.

“It can be difficult to see everything when you sit down there (in the dugout), so I made notes, did drawings, I'd speak to the bench, come down at half-time and tell them what I'd seen.

"Of course, it was different from being on the bench but that was what Mikel's staff wanted and (what) I had to accept and do."