--- In arsenalfootballclub@yahoogroups.com, nadia jones
<nadiamjones@b...> wrote:
> Freddie should be ready
> Freddie Ljungberg is looking to ease Arsene Wenger's midfield
injury worries by targeting a return to action in Arsenal's Boxing
Day clash against Fulham.
>
> Ljungberg has missed the past three matches after suffering two
acute migraines, prompting the club to send him for scans with a
neurologist.
> Those tests gave him the all-clear to resume full training this
week, with the Swedish international now hoping to make his first-
team comeback in Sunday's game at Highbury.
>
> That would certainly be a relief for Wenger, who revealed his
confidence last week that Ljungberg "should be fit for the Christmas
period".
> After all, Jose Antonio Reyes has now been ruled out of contention
for the game against Fulham with a knee injury, even if he may yet
recover in time to face Newcastle three days later.
> Gilberto is still a long-term absentee with a back injury, while
Edu is now back in training after a broken toe, even if he was not
included in the expected starting line-up for Tuesday night's
reserves game against Charlton.
> Indeed, Edu may yet find his first-team chances limited if he
continues to fail to reach agreement over a new contract, with his
current deal due to expire next summer.
> Ljungberg's expected return would nevertheless give Wenger some
room for manoeuvre, even if Robin van Persie has now forced his way
into the reckoning.
> The Dutchman, who is only just coming to terms with the speed of
the English game, was given his first Premiership start in the 1-0
win at Southampton last weekend.
> Van Persie is not used to the idea of a frantic programme of
Christmas fixtures, with Arsenal playing four times in 10 days, but
he is relishing the prospect.
> "It's going to be strange as, in Holland, you get two and a half
weeks off. It's new for me but I think it adds something to play on
Boxing Day," he revealed.
> "I know it's a tradition over here so I'm looking forward to it. My
wife will be spending Christmas Day with her family, but I will be at
work."
> Van Persie can probably expect a return to the substitutes' bench
against Fulham, with Dennis Bergkamp poised for a recall in attack,
but Wenger will no doubt rotate his squad over the festive period.
> Indeed, the Arsenal boss remains confident his team can keep up the
pressure on leaders Chelsea over the next fortnight after their win
at Southampton last Sunday.
> "The Christmas games are always important and I feel that Christmas
started on Sunday. Now we play on the 26th, the 29th, the 1st and the
4th, so we have a lot of games in a short time," Wenger told the
club's website.
> "It is very important to capitalise on that because over Christmas
things can change quickly. But we have the hunger, talent and
experience - and they're good ingredients to make it interesting.
> "We also have the belief and we can come back. You have seen that
anything can happen and it's down to us."
>
>
>
> I just wanna live
> Don't really care about the things that they say
> Don't really care about what happens to me
>
>
>
> this season is not our season
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]