Freddie Ljungberg says Arsenal are ‘scared’ after Gunners lose again to make it NINE without a win

FREDDIE LJUNGBERG has sensationally claimed Arsenal players are SCARED after their home reversal against Brighton.

The north Londoners are now on their worst run of form for 42 YEARS and nine games without a win.

Goals from Adam Webster and Neal Maupay either side of Alexandre Lacazette's equaliser saw the Gunners slump to tenth in the Premier League with their fourth defeat of the season.

And speaking after the game, Ljungberg - who replaced sacked Unai Emery last Friday - said: "They look very short on confidence.

"In the first half they were scared to get the ball and a bit scored to move, they were just standing still.

"That's something we need to talk about. They need to have a win, we need to dig out a win and get them some confidence.

"They can do it because they showed it in the beginning of the second half and they did it really well for 20 minutes.

"It's hard to say that when you lose at home, but they were very good in that little spell."

'DIDN'T SHOW UP'

For Brighton, this was a first-ever victory away to Arsenal and a maiden win on the road against an established "top six" opponent.

Ljungberg continued: "It was tough.

"We didn't show up in the first half, didn't work hard and didn't want to play. You can't start like that.

"Second half we had a word and were better but we are suspect on the counter and we have no confidence. We gave them 45 minutes at home.

"I need to work on that and get confidence back into the boys.

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"It's a concern for any coach, a lack of confidence.

"At half time we said 'This is not Arsenal, we have to give it a crack.'

"That's what I want to see from them.

"Of course it's disappointing but we've got to keep on going. The players are low on confidence, I think you can see that.

"There was a little bit of a reaction in the second half, but you've got to start games like that.

"We're in a difficult situation, we've lost a lot of games and the confidence has gone down.

"We started the game flat with no energy and it's my job to get them to be aggressive and play with energy."

Arsenal travel to West Ham on Monday which could provide some respite with Manuel Pellegrini's Hammers in a crisis of their own.