Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he wants to keep Freddie Ljungberg on his coaching staff at Arsenal. The new Gunners manager wants Ljungbjerg, who acted as interim head coach after the sacking of Unai Emery last month, as part of his backroom team.
The Swede saw his team win one game of six in his spell in charge, the last being the goalless draw at Everton on Saturday which Arteta, appointed on Friday, watched from the stands.
Spaniard Arteta has been working with the Gunners squad for the last two days, and takes charge of his first game when Arsenal visit Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
Arteta, appointed on a four-year deal after acting as pep Guardiola’s No 2 at Manchester City for three years, said: “I spoke to Freddie.
“I told him my idea, the people I wanted to bring to form my coaching staff, their roles and responsibilities.
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“I wanted to know what he was feeling, what he had in mind, what his expectations were. We talked and we made a decision that the best thing was for him to stay.
“He knows the players, knows the situation, knows where we’re coming from, and his knowledge of the game is going to really help us.
“We will start a new chapter now with new ideas, new ways of doing things. I got a really good impression. He’s ready to help. He was very positive.”
The Spaniard, who will have Steve Round as his new assistant head coach, will have Mesut Ozil and Hector Bellerin fit for Boxing Day, but Calum Chambers is suspended.
But Arteta insisted that Ozil, who Ljungberg said he would have dropped on Saturday if he had not been injured after kicking a water bottle when substituted in the home defeat by Manchester City, now has a fresh start.
Mertens, 32, has been in strong form for the Italian outfit this season, scoring nine times in all competitions, but Napoli are ready to offload him.
The Gunners are interested despite his advancing years, but they are likely to face competition from German giants Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
Both of the Bundesliga giants have sounded him out and hope to see off any competition from the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta will only get limited funds to improve his squad when the transfer window opens at the start of next month.