Today’s back pages: decision time for Arsenal as Freddie Ljungberg urges board to hire new boss quickly

Premier League Arsenal 0 Manchester City 3

The Guardian reports it could be decision time for Arsenal after the north London club suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City yesterday. 

City’s comfortable victory at the Emirates leaves the Gunners ninth in the Premier League table, seven points behind Chelsea who currently hold the fourth Champions League qualification spot.   

Freddie Ljungberg has been in interim charge of Arsenal since Unai Emery’s sacking at the end of November. And i Sport reports that Swedish coach Ljungberg has called on the Arsenal board to make a permanent appointment as soon as possible. 

Speaking after the match, Ljungberg said: “I’ve said to them [the board] they need to make a decision. We are all here to help but [interim assistant manager] Per [Mertesacker] is doing another job [managing the Arsenal academy] at the same time and he’s doing great to help. 

“I must say thank you to all the other staff for trying to chip in but a decision has to be made so we can have the same resources as other clubs.”

City took a three-goal half-time lead at the Emirates and the Daily Star says hundreds of Arsenal fans had “all gun home” as the reigning champions dominated. 

Kevin De Bruyne was “simply De best”, says The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail, with the Belgian putting on a two-goal masterclass. Raheem Sterling scored City’s other goal.

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Today’s newspaper back pages

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