Interview

Freddie – It was tough, but a good lesson for us

Despite a late goal from Reiss Nelson, Freddie Ljungberg’s under-23s were forced to settle for a draw on Monday night, after Brighton equalised deep into injury time.

Substitute Aaron Connolly scored the all-important goal for the visitors, but Ljungberg reiterated that this will be a great lesson for his squad, who faced an experienced Seagulls side with a number of first-team stars.

He spoke to Arsenal Player after the game, and this is what he said:

on the team’s performance…

It was good. So-so in the first half but then we spoke a little bit at half-time and the boys really reacted and came out really on top really well in the first 20 minutes of the second half and created lots of chances. We should have scored more goals and I think that’s what we need to take away with us. Unfortunately for the boys they got done on a set piece that you can see Brighton have been practising and they score from it in injury time, and that’s tough for them, but we are progressing as a team and I see a lot of development in how they play, their thinking and the pockets they find, so it’s very good.

on conceding at the death…

For us to grow, maybe we didn’t have to take the free-kick in extra time and we should have played a little more mature and not been so naïve, but that’s sometimes what you have in youth football, so that’s something that we’re going to work on and that gives them experience. Of course it’s tough, but well done to Brighton, they worked on that free-kick and they hit it.

on Brighton fielding a number of first-team players…

I knew it was going to be very difficult because there’s some big names out there that they’ve been buying and my boys responded well. We have Bukayo who came on and he’s like 16-years old or so, so that’s great for my boys as they’re very young and playing against top players will make them even better.

on an assured defensive performance, despite the late goal…

They were great. We talk a lot about if we have possession then we need to be ready to defend and lock on even when we have possession, so we don’t get any turnovers against us and they did really well. Against City we had a bit of a problem with that on the counter so we worked on that in the week.

on the challenges that Brighton presented his side…

I’ve seen them and I know that they’re compact and they play the longer ball, work on the second balls and fight. So of course, when they put in very good experience first team players that makes it more difficult for us, but that’s part of the game and I thought it was good for us. The main thing for my boys is to learn.

on how his players have taken to his demands and beliefs…

Maybe you should ask them! But in general terms I feel good and of course I want to prepare them for the first team, so it’s more tactical and where they need to be on the pitch, but they’re doing well, listening and maturing as a team.

on returning to the Emirates as a manager…

I see it as my home and I love being here. It’s an honour to be allowed to sit on that bench.

on being desperate to face West Ham so that they can right their wrongs…

We conceded from a set piece in extra time and they’ve clearly worked on that one. It was a good free-kick, but we need to work on being less naïve in allowing them to have the free-kick, but it’s a new game and we’re looking forward to it. It’s West Ham, so it’s going to be fun.

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