Arsenal lose Ljungberg for Newcastle game

LONDON COLNEY, England, Nov 17 (Reuters) Arsenal's Sweden midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has joined Brazilian Gilberto as an absentee for tomorrow's Premier League game with Newcastle United.

Ljungberg had been expected to end a six-week injury absence due to a calf problem when Arsene Wenger's side take on Newcastle, three days before their Champions League clash with Hamburg SV at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger told reporters today: ''Freddie's out. He practised today and I nearly wanted to pick him, but he'll practise to be available for the squad on Tuesday.'' Gilberto has returned to Brazil for family reasons and will fly back on Sunday. Wenger was non-committal over whether the midfielder would be fit for Tuesday's game.

''It depends how he will be physically and mentally,'' Wenger said. ''He had to pull out of the Brazil squad in Switzerland and he has not trained all week.'' Fellow Brazilian midfielder Julio Baptista is fit again after injury and goes into the squad.

REUTERS SAM RAI2112