When Freddie Ljungberg signed for Arsenal soon after
scoring for Sweden aganst England in the opening game
of the Euro 2000 qualification campaign, great things
were expected of the energetic midfielder. And after
coming off the bench to score on his Gunners' debut
and secure an emphatic 3-0 win over Manchester United,
Arsene Wenger looked to have uncovered a gem. However,
fatigue began to take its toll on a player who, because
of the different dates in Swedish football, hadn't had
a break in 18 months.

Injuries followed and, when he was playing, he was stuck
out in an unfamiliar wide berth. Suddenly things weren't
looking so hot.

But this campaign has seen the reawakening of the
spiky-haired former Halmstad player. Now a regular in
the team at Highbury, he has impressed wherever he's
played, looking deadly in his preferred advanced central
midfield position. MATCH spoke to the rejuvenated Ljungberg.


Is this the best form you've been in at Arsenal?

Yes, this season has been much better than the last one.
I had a rest during the summer and pre-season training
with the team was really good. It was tough when I first
joined and I couldn't really contribtue as much as I would
like because of the injuries I had. You want to perform
and you can't really do it when you're getting injured all
the time. I still really enjoyed my time early on but the
season has been good, so we just need to win some more games
now and then we'll be happy again.



So how was your time at Halmstad?

Halmstad was the only club I played for before I joined
Arsenal. I moved to Halstad when I was five years old, so
you could say it was my hometown club. I made my debut in
the first-team when I was 17 and from what I can remember
it wenH!




Did you feel pressured to do well for Arsenal after scoring
against England?

No, things were okay. I started really well and scored
against Manchester United and I felt really good. Then I
played for 18 months without a break because we don't have
the same season in Sweden. The Swedish season started in
January so when I came to Arsenal the Swedish league was
finished and I went straight off to a new one. I became
tired after a while and I picked up some injuries where
the muscles tear because they can't hold together any more.
So it was hard because I couldn't get into a good rhythm.



Were any other clubs interested in you?

Yes. Of course I considered other clubs, in other countries
as well, but then I met Arsene Wenger and that was the factor
that made me decide to go to Arsenal. I had a long chat with
him and we talked a lot about football and the things he
wanted. I agreed with his philosophy towards football and
that's why I signed. There were other teams interested, but
I'm happy to be here.



So what is your favorite position in the team?

Well, at Manchester United earlier this season, I played
between the forwards and the midfield. That was usually
where I played before I came to Arsenal, in an attacking
central midfield role and I'm much more familiar with that
role than out wide, where I've played pretty much all the
time I've been with Arsenal. I'm still learning because I'd
never played out wide before, but when I'm allowed to play
in behind the strikers, that's where I used to play, and
that's my favorite position.



Is there any secret to you hitting the back of the net
against Manchester United?

I don't know! Most of all I think it's a little luck against
them but at the same time it's easier to score against them
because they want to play football. Most other teams try to
hold us and don't know when to attack us. They just drop back
and want to defend and not make any space, but to play against
United is a pleasure. It's the same when we play Chelsea,
because they want to play as well and I enjoy that. It's a
more open game agaisnt United than against other Premiership
teams.



What are you hoping from the season now?

We are hoping t finish as high as we possibly can in the
Premiership. Of course, when the season started our main
aim was to win the championship and do well in the Champion's
League and the Cups, but we are still going to fight for every
point and try to finish as high as we can. The UEFA Cup is very
important to us now and it's always enjoyable to play in Europe,
whether it's in the Champions League or the UEFA Cup. It's a
different kind of game to the Premiership and I do enjoy it.
If you look at the squad, it's a very good squad and our main
goal is to win trophies. That's everybody's goal and we are
still trying to do it again this season.