Ljungberg, Reyes back for Gunners

Arsenal v Birmingham

Fredrik Ljungberg and Jose Reyes returned to the Arsenal line-up at home to Birmingham as Arsene Wenger’s Barclaycard Premiership champions continued their quest to finish the league season unbeaten.

Ljungberg – who has been out with a hand injury – and Reyes, set to make his first start on the left flank for the Gunners, replaced Ray Parlour and Robert Pires who were both on the bench.

Sylvain Wiltord, Edu and Pascal Cygan were injured. But Martin Keown and Jeremie Aliadiere were hoping to come off the bench, needing four and three more appearances respectively to qualify for Premiership winners’ medals.

Birmingham were still chasing a European place but were without leading scorer Mikael Forssell with a knee injury. David Dunn returned from injury to partner Clinton Morrison up front.

Ian Bennett started in goal for the suspended Maik Taylor and Robbie Savage was included despite an ankle injury.

Arsenal:

Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Silva, Reyes, Bergkamp, Henry.

Subs: Keown, Pires, Parlour, Shaaban, Aliadiere.

Birmingham:

Bennett, Cunningham, Clapham, Upson, Tebily, Savage, Lazaridis, Dunn, Johnson, Clemence, Morrison.

Subs: Cisse, Hughes, Doyle, John, Martin Taylor.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)