Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is a major doubt for both next month's Champions League qualifier and the start of the new Barclays Premiership season.

The Sweden midfielder has been struggling with an ankle problem, which manager Arsene Wenger feels may not even clear up in time for the 29-year-old to feature against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on August 19.

"Ljungberg has an inflammation around his ankle," said Wenger, currently away with the squad in Austria, where the Gunners beat Mattersburg on Tuesday night.