Ljungberg aims to ease injury headaches for Wenger
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.”
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 last 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.
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, 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.”
Meanwhile, Newcastle winger Laurent Robert has admitted that his time at St James’ Park could be drawing to a close after his failure to impress Graeme Souness.
The 29-year-old Frenchman has been left out of the starting line-up for the club’s last three games, and recently found himself the target for stinging criticism from Souness.
Accused of not working hard enough in either matches or training, Robert has been exiled to the wilderness.
“The manager has no confidence in me,” he said.
“He says I am lazy in training and tells people I am no good. All the time I am just supposed to sit on the bench. It looks like I am not going to play for Newcastle any more. I feel I have proved myself during three years in the Premiership, but the manager keeps putting me on the bench.
“I want to stay with United, I really do. But if I am not going to play, then I will move.”
Newcastle captain Alan Shearer is fighting a losing battle to return from injury against former club Blackburn on Sunday. The 34-year-old has missed his side’s last seven games with a thigh injury and is currently awaiting the results of a scan.
lAmerican defender Daniel Karbassiyoon, who scored a Carling Cup goal on his Arsenal debut two months ago, has joined promotion hopeful Ipswich on a month's loan.
The 20-year-old left back has stepped down a division to get more first team experience and went straight into the squad for last night’s game against League Championship leader Wigan.
“We were actually asking Arsenal about another player on loan, but then they mentioned that Daniel was available,” said Ipswich manager Joy Royle.
“He has the right attitude and Daniel is dead keen to join us. He turned down plans to fly home to Virginia for the holiday period.”
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