24th July 2003

(THE SUN)
FREDDIE LJUNGBERG admits big-spending Chelsea have made Arsenal twitchy.


The Swedish midfielder was hoping to take revenge on Manchester United
for stealing the Gunners’ Premiership crown last season.

Lifting the FA Cup was scant consolation for the Highbury side losing
out on the marathon.

But now Chelsea are looking a threat, thanks to billionaire Roman
Abramovich’s Russian revolution.

That alarms the Gunners’ Swedish star — though he concedes it will
make the Premiership a better spectacle.

Ljungberg, 26, said: “Of course you worry about other teams getting
an advantage — but what has happened at Chelsea is good for football.

“They are from London, like us, so it is going to make for some
  nice derbies.

“They will have a strong squad and they will be better than last season.

“In the last couple of seasons they have been brilliant against the
  good teams but not so consistent against the poorer ones. That may
  change.”

The season is shaping up for a titanic title tussle, with Liverpool
and Newcastle also in the race for title glory.

Blues owner Abramovich looked at buying the Gunners but decided
against it because of the problems they are encountering as they try
to build a new 60,000-seater stadium.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have yet to make a major summer signing.

But Ljungberg, who scored a late penalty in a 2-2 draw against
Austrian Fourth Division side Ritzing on Tuesday, is optimistic.

He added: “I think we are still looking for some new players which
will strengthen the squad a little bit.

“We still have the same players as last season so, hopefully, we
  will do better this time.

“We’ve played well the last couple of seasons but, when you look
  at other teams, they are strengthening their squads.

“The manager has said he wants to do that — and I think he will.”

Ljungberg knows that spending millions improves the chances of
success — but it does not guarantee it.

Arsenal have all the experience when it comes to fighting for
honours, while Chelsea will take time to become a cohesiveunit.

As Ljungberg pointed out: “We’ve won the Premiership before and
the FA Cup, so we will keep on working.”