okay... sonicfredonline has a really big surprise for Fredrik Ljungberg today. click [here] to see the manga version of grown-up Sonic Fred, who was inspired by the real red-headed goal-sinking butt-kicking Fred.
Happy Birthday, Fred!

other news: Arsenal 0 Middlesborough 3 Fred played and charged constantly goalwards (towards the right goal, too) but we failed to get a result and lost instead with two own goals. that smarts. still, we get a chance to kick Spanish arse tomorrow (no offense, amigo) when we take on Valencia away in the CL. actually a draw would be enough, but Arsenal do not go into a game looking for a draw; we load the guns and fire. of course getting them on aim is the hard part.

now for a little note [April 9] from the Swedish paper Norra Västerbotten, contributed by 'mrs ljungberg': "Fredrik Ljungberg's Arsenal is ready for the final in the FA-cup. The Gunners won the London derby against Tottenham 2-1... Fredrik Ljungberg started off on the bench, but was exchanged instead for an injured Pires in the 77th minute. Arsenal's final opponents will be Liverpool that bet the suprising team Wycombe with 2-1. The FA-cup will be played in Cardiff on the 12th of May."

some more notes from Swedish papers on Sweden vs Moldavia, March 29: "As usual, Ljungberg had the ideas, the imagination, the quick feet and created goal chances but had as usual had a hard time trying to score by himself. Argumentative against the referees, but still the best Swede. 4 out of 5 then."

april 13, 2001

Fred 2 Man City0 and Kanu and Wiltord got two more in, that's four altogether. ooo I can still count. amazing. PA Sports report: "Freddie Ljungberg... struck twice in an awesome first-half performance in which Arsenal scored all their goals... Ashley Cole's cross was miscued by Sylvain Wiltord, but the ball broke nicely for Ljungberg, who knocked it sweetly past Nash... Ljungberg got his second goal of the game with a delightful chip over Nash after Kanu had threaded the ball through."

See Fred's goals thanks to Arsenal World: [goal1 8th min] and [goal2 16th min]

Mention is also made of two unidentified streakers who breached the pitch at the end of the game, apparently attempting to wallop the Arsenal players. Oh, those Spurs fans.

and now we take a diversion to talk about Vicks Vapo-Rub. It is a gluey substance that helps you breathe better in case you get a cold. dan explains that "...it's good for athletes who need help to maintain a good intake of oxygen without wearing a stupid plaster on their nose like Robbie Fowler..."

reason? Fred uses it. Gareth: "I must say I had looked at Freddie's shirt in close up the other day and wondered what the hell he had got down it - my only explanation until now was that he had used it in absence of a tissue - but I am relieved to hear that he is not a gross little munchkin - and is in fact a far more responsible adult..."

so it's either Vicks or hair dye or the fact that his birthday is next Monday.

april 11, 2001

Excerpt from email by the founder of the Fredrik Ljungberg Yahoo! club:

"Ljungberg has been criticized in Sweden lately for not being creative enough on the midfield in the nationalteam. Experts think that he needs to score on his chances, and create more for others. Some say that Anders Svensson soon will take over his place as the best midfielder in Sweden."

april 10, 2001

Arsenal 2 Spurs 1 hello Liverpool. Fred surprisingly did not feature much in this game, being a late sub; perhaps Wenger felt the removal of Chris Armstrong's head was not something the FA would like.

Meanwhile about Fred's new contract with Arsenal, from Soccerage: "Ljungberg looks set to sign a new contract with the Gunners after ongoing discussions appeared to be fruitful. Speaking to Swedish newspaper Expressen, Ljungberg said, "We have been discussing this for two months. Most probably, I will sign. I feel that I would like to stay for most of my footballing career in London. I also have a manager who believes in me, that is important."

Calciomercato carries a warped version of this where Fred is quoted as saying: "At first, I struggled to settle, but now I am very happy. It's nice to play in a side where the coach believes in you'."

april 6, 2001

Arsenal 2 Valencia 1 and we need a draw to continue. Fred running around with a patch of red on top of his head where he splashed this current dollop of dye; had the most runs at Valencia's defense but fell down too many times. Yellow cards all over the place, none for Fred. At half-time Wenger switched him for Wiltord and Valencia had more possession (although in truth we got our goals in the second half).

april 1, 2001

Arsenal 2 Spurs 0 Pires and Henry, Fred on the bench but didn't play. Presumably still feeling the effects of the assassins disguised as football players sent to dispatch him during his matches with Sweden. That's sarcasm. They were monsters. new articles and one interview up at sonicfred online thanks to 'mrs ljungberg'.

march 30, 2001

Sweden 2 Moldovia 0 : no mention of who scored the goals though. Fred apparently most heavily bandaged all over one leg. arsenal.com: "Fredrik played the full 90 minutes of this game in which Sweden looked to be heading for an embarrassing goal-less draw, until two goals from substitute Marcus Allback in the last 2 minutes rescued their qualifying hopes and kept Sweden in joint-first place with Slovakia and Turkey."

Articles and interviews translated by our kind Swedish correspondent mrs ljungberg available soon, hopefully over the weekend.

march 24, 2001

dailysoccer.com: "An unimpressive Sweden moved into first place, for a few hours at least, with a 1-0 win over Macedonia in Gothenburg. Anders Svensson scored the only goal after 43 minutes."

brutally honest site, isn't it? our swedish translator who will be known to us as mrs ljungberg [welcome back] remarks that fred spent most of the match 'lying down', presumably after getting tripped.

march 19, 2001

Bayern Munich 1 Arsenal 0 but we're in the quarter-finals anyway and we've been drawn to play Valencia. The game at Villa last Saturday was disappointing though, ending in a scoreless draw. Comments on Fred's game all seem to agree that while few can beat his effort and industry, his finishing is still letting him down. Barn door and whatnot.

march 9, 2001

Arsenal 1 Spartak Moscow 0 but not out of danger yet unless we stuff Bayern Munich away (fingernails). Fred played the whole match with a 'work rate that is out of this world'. Earlier last Saturday Arsenal beat West Ham in a Premiership match, Freddie assisting in one or two of Wiltord's hattrick and trying a few good cracks himself. Sweden 3 Malta 0 if you didn't know, in the international friendly last week.

I'm terribly embarrassed about the lack of news especially compared to the post-match fallout on the Henry newsdiary but the journos simply don't write about Fred (not in English anyway).

march 2, 2001

ANR reader Adam Levine's Fred-observations "...regarding Ljungberg and his total inability to play on the right flank. Where did Wenger place him? Right flank. And... he can't play there. When he moves to the left he becomes something special, otherwize he's lost.

Arsenal right now have too many players unsure of their positions; or simply not in their positions! Ljungberg's placed on the right or the left; can only play the left; but has his heart in the centre next to Vieira. (which he doesn't get and won't get)."

march 1, 2001

from football365.com: "Celestine Babayaro was charged with violent conduct by the Football Association for stamping on Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg... during the stormy FA Cup fifth round encounter at Highbury on February 18. The FA decided to charge Babayaro after their video advisory panel looked at three incidents in the game. In addition to the challenge on Ljungberg, the panel also saw him tripping Dennis Bergkamp. The other flashpoint, viewed by the panel, was a mass confrontation of players. Babayaro has been charged with a breach of rule E2 and has 14 days in which to respond."

Strangely enough, it's not an Arsenal player's fault this time... and Fred's ankle has been avenged. Something like.

february 28, 2001

Malta plays Sweden today in an international friendly. Fred's been called up for Sweden again. They love him.

Saturday, February 24, 2001

Arsenal 1 Lyon 1: last-minute equaliser business, but for Lyon, not the Arsenal!

football365's Mediawatch identified Fred's cupboard pursuer (see below) as Swedish actress Lina Perned.

february 19, 2001

Arsenal 3 Chelsea 1: Fred ran the wings and got a low shot near the post, but so far no one's said anything about how deeply he enjoyed the mid-match slapping game Dennis Wise wanted to play with Pires's head.

Amusing ANR snippet: "Former team-mate of Freddie Ljungberg, Pontus Kaamark recalled an incident recently: "Lina really fancied him and was chasing Freddie around the hotel in her bra and knickers. He was running from her. He wasn't interested and hid from her in a cupboard."

On the game, however, the site says:

"Switching to the left for the last 20 minutes, Ljungberg improved. Ljungberg is much better on the left. He is a skirmisher-poacher, not a winger. His qualities are speed, tenacity and opportunism.He is good in the thick of the action, and in the box, but not out on the touchline. Ljungberg is not a winger or a good crosser or even a good passer. He is a small, mobile, determined warrior who can make things happen and score goals - FROM THE LEFT! ONLY FROM THE LEFT! I love Ljungberg and have done from day one, just as I love Lauren now.But there is not enough end-product.He runs down cul-de-sacs and loses the ball too much."

february 15, 2001

Olympique Lyon 0 Arsenal 1: Fred came on for Goofy (Pires) on 68. Match reports don't really talk about him. He must have been wearing that biker jacket again.

february 12, 2001

Arsenal 1 Ipswich 0: Fred came on for Wiltord in the 70th minute, hopefully completely recovered from his injury.

[aside, the comp is still dead. sorry for the irregularity of updates.]

february 5, 2001

ANR's news roundup included the nasty little note that Fred will be out of action for a month (does that include the three games he's already missed?) with his foot injury. On the plus side, Arsenal beat Coventry 1-0 last Saturday with a Bergkamp goal. Sing the songs.

february 1, 2001

In the middle of the Arsenal 2 Bradford 0 game, ANR reports: "At half time I saw Freddie Ljungberg come out through the directors box and walk up into the back of the stand. Freddie was with two young blondes and was dressed in a ridiculous manner. He wore a black motorcycle jacket which was padded with advertising logo-panels like a pro rider. His normal everyday attire, I'm told, is punk-metal T-shirts."

Earlier news: Fred missed the QPR match (which we won 6-0>) due to a foot injury he picked up in the draw at Leicester last Saturday. Ljungberg confirmed the injury: "I got a nasty tackle from behind and the foot got twisted. It is swollen and difficult to walk, but fortunately it is not broken."

He doesn't like missing out on the fight against ManUre for tops, though: "It is tough. There are many points to play for, but we have to hope that there can come a slump and we might be able to put pressure on them."

january 21, 2001

b>Leicester 0 Arsenal 0: Fred got kicked a lot and someone finally got sent off for it. He managed a rocket blast attempt at goal but was pulled off for Edu's debut, unfortunately Edu could not deal with the violence that comes with Fred's position and limped off after a bit so Bergy could come on. Fred must have given Bergy tips on how to wallop offenders back because no further subs were made in this position.

january 18, 2001

ANR: (from analysis of the Chelsea game) Ljungberg got a standing ovation when he went off with cramp after 88 minutes. Three Chelsea players had been booked for fouling him.

@FC fanzine reaction to the Chelsea game: "The only player who looked really upset and arsed was Ljungberg. Inexplicably, Wenger at his most capricious and George Graham like, took Freddie off with about eight minutes to go to make way for Vivas. Even Mr Wenger who hears and sees things so selectively must have caught the 30,000 people booing his decision to pull Freddie off." Man of the Match: Freddie Ljungberg. Shame on you Wenger for taking him off.

january 15, 2001

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 1, the best summation of the match given by one missed Fred shot which he responded to by holding his head in his hands.

The computer is depressed and is having bad clusters and must be put down. Updates suspended out of respect, and because without a computer it becomes hard to update. I hope a new one comes fast.

january 7, 2001

Carlisle 0 Arsenal 1: Wiltord scored early and Fred narrowly missed a chance to up the score when he put a Goofy [Pires] pass into Carlisle keeper Glennon's legs. Wenger took Fred off for Silvinho, evidently feeling the need to defend.

Realplayer video of Fred's goal from the Leicester game thanks to Arsenal World.

january 4, 2001

@FC the electronic arsenal fanzine does a midseason comment on Fred: "Having a good season. Not always played in his best position, but has bags of heart and soul; a rare commodity nowadays at Highbury."

january 3, 2001

Charlton 1 Arsenal 0: put up front with Kanu, Fred did his best but it simply wasn't enough. Again it seems his finishing is what lets him down time and time again, cruel because no one else runs harder or longer than him.

[from Marta] Fred was among the Arsenal players present at the recent Free Royal Hospital visit, wearing 'a hideous jacket' and spreading cheer. Good man.

january 1, 2001

Arsenal 2 Sunderland 2: Fred's dazzling runs were hampered by his less-than-smooth finishing, although the sheer magnitude of his effort, if made physically manifest, would have filled eight Highburys. Lee Dixon was there to put in one cross from Thierry Henry that Fred missed. The other goal came from that prolific airman Paddy Vieira.

Fred speaks to arsenal.com: "I don't believe the title race is over. Just over half of the campaign is finished but although United have this lead now, hopefully we can catch them. We were of course very disappointed after losing at Liverpool and showed against Leicester that we can play football. It's a very important game for us this Hopefully we will carry on from the Leicester win and try to play as well again."

On Swedish newssite Aftonbladet, journalist Peter Wennman remarks in his article on English football: "Höstens svenska namn 3: Ljungberg, Fredrik. Svensk målsumpare i Arsenal. Men få springer mer och sliter hårdare."

december 31, 2000

Arsenal 2 Sunderland 2: details later.

Fred speaks to arsenal.com: "I don't believe the title race is over. Just over half of the campaign is finished but although United have this lead now, hopefully we can catch them. We were of course very disappointed after losing at Liverpool and showed against Leicester that we can play football. It's a very important game for us this Hopefully we will carry on from the Leicester win and try to play as well again."

december 27, 2000

Arsenal 6 Leicester 1: now I can die happy. Freddie came on as a substitute for Kanu and scored in the 75th minute with his first touch.

december 24, 2000

Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0: In a match Fred started and didn't end (being taken off for Wiltord on 65 minutes), there was not much to make good Chrizzy memories of, bar an okay performance by the sonic one and a lot of charging down Liverpool's defensive left with Thierry Henry, trying to hit pay dirt. Which ultimately failed, but seems like a good idea for the future.

december 21, 2000

on the Spurs game, John Klissas notes: 'Apart from Paddy's goal, my favourite moment in the game happened in about the 78th minute, Freddie shoots just wide of goal and the ball goes screaming into the crowd. The little spurs fan in the front row ducks and his mate behind him feels the full force of a Freddie special...right in the guts.' observant man.

december 19, 2000

Tottenham Hotscum 1 Arsenal 1: Paddy saves the day. Freddy gets muddy and has another one of his almost-goal scorchers. In an earlier article Fred talks about the previous Highbury anxiety over the November slump: "There is a lot less laughing in training now, we know we have to sort things out." Hopefully Arsenal will have more to laugh about after the Liverpool game away at Anfield on Saturday, 11.30 am (UK), not in front of them of course. New pictures up at photo archive.

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