Ljungberg and Cole set for stay on sidelines

Arsenal are ready to rule out Freddie Ljungberg and Ashley Cole from their Highbury clash with Leeds United on Friday night.

But both players are likely to be available again for the north London derby at Tottenham 10 days later when the Gunners could be on the brink of wrapping up their second Premiership title in three years.

Ljungberg has had an operation on two bones he fractured in a hand during the 1-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United and was willing to carry on for the rest of the campaign with pain-killing injections.

He played in the 2-1 Champions League defeat by Chelsea and the reviving 4-2 Premiership win over Liverpool but dropped out of the goalless draw at Newcastle on Sunday after it was pointed out to him that surgery could see him back in action within two weeks.

England left-back Cole sprained an ankle against Newcastle but is also hopeful of facing Spurs, where Arsenal clinched the first part of their first league and cup double with a Ray Kennedy goal back in 1971.

The title could come again at White Hart Lane 33 years on but it is more likely the modern-day Arsenal may have to wait until the home clash with Birmingham on May 1 for their first opportunity to clinch it.