Arsenal will be without Freddie Ljungberg over the Christmas
period after the midfielder picked up a hamstring injury at the
weekend.
Ljungberg had to be replaced by Theo Walcott just five minutes into
The Gunners' game against Portsmouth on Saturday.
"He had a hamstring (injury)," manager Arsene Wenger confirmed on
the club's official website. "He will miss the Christmas
period."
The Swedish international will be forced to sit out the home game
against Blackburn as well as trips to Watford and Sheffield United
within a week.
Ljungberg had already been ruled out of Tuesday's Carling Cup
quarter-final against Liverpool and he adds to Arsenal's injury
concerns.
Captain Thierry Henry is also out until the New Year with a similar
complaint, while William Gallas and Tomas Rosicky have been both
been sidelined recently.