MIKEL ARTETA is the new Arsenal manager – but may be wondering just how he will change the fortunes at the Emirates.
The Spaniard signed on Friday, being handed a contract until 2023 and could be partnered by Steve Round as assistant manager and Inaki Cana Pavon as goalkeeping coach.
Yet, he could only watch on as Arsenal were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw with Everton in Freddie Ljungberg's final match as interim boss before stepping aside.
And you can follow all the reaction from Everton vs Arsenal draw via our dedicated MATCH BLOG.
Or Follow all the latest gossip and transfer news from the Emirates below…
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FREDDIE LJUNGBERG put his faith in Arsenal's youngsters during his short spell as interim boss – but it backfired, writes Joseph Miles.
The Swedish manager has handed the baton over to Mikel Arteta after winning just one game in six attempts with the Gunners.
Ljungberg started his final game in charge against Everton with Arsenal's youngest starting XI in the Premier League since the end of the 2010/11 season.
The club's average age at Goodison Park was 24 years and 50 days – and it showed from start to finish as the match ended 0-0.
It took Arsenal 44 minutes just to have a shot on goal – which is the longest it has taken them in a league game since 2015.
And 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli left Ljungberg with his head in his hands when the shot flew way wide of the woodwork.
Emile Smith Rowe made his Premier League debut, but his inexperience showed at times when the ball was at his feet.
Bukayo Saka, 18, Reiss Nelson, 20, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 22, also made the cut for the starting squad.
Midfield veteran Mesut Ozil missed the match through injury – but Ljungberg confirmed he wouldn't have picked him anyway.
He told BT Sport: “Mesut wouldn't have been in the squad anyway given what happened in the last game.”
Arsenal fans should have been relieved to hear Arteta is relying on the 31-year-old to guide the Gunners back up the table.
The struggling north London side need their star men to lead by example – both on and off the pitch.
And it's about time Arsenal gave the German midfielder the chance to justify his £350,000-per-week wages.
Arteta has less than a week to construct his masterplan before the Boxing Day clash against Bournemouth – but you can't help but think they need a Christas miracle.
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IT IS safe to say that was not exactly a classic between Everton and Arsenal.
But it does mean Twittenemies Piers Morgan and Gary Lineker have finally found something to agree on.
Gunners fan Piers wrote: “This is one of the worst games of football I’ve ever endured.”
And Match of the Day host Lineker joked: “Rumours that both Arteta and Ancelotti have resigned are apparently not true.”
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ARSENAL'S stars had the chance to impress new boss Mikel Arteta as he watched closely from the sidelines at Goodison Park.
But the Gunners failed to make the most of the opportunity as they were held to an underwhelming 0-0 draw with Everton.
Here's how SunSport's Joseph Miles rated the Arsenal players…
Bernd Leno – 5
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 6
Calum Chambers – 6
David Luiz – 4
Bukayo Saka – 4
Granit Xhaka – 4
Lucas Torreira – 5
Reiss Nelson – 4
Emile Smith Rowe – 6
Gabrielle Martinelli – 5
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 3
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ALL OVER
In the departing-interim-managers derby, it finishes 0-0.
Now both Ljungberg and Ferguson are saying their goodbyes – strange atmosphere.
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STILL 0-0
There are just eight minutes remaining at Everton and we are still awaiting the opening goal.
Ljungberg has just hauled off Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Alexandre Lacazette.
And Duncan Ferguson has done it again – he has subbed off a sub with Cenk Tosun dragged for that man Moise Kean.
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