Red hot Freddie

BBC Sport Online's Paul Fletcher argues Arsenal's Freddie Ljungberg is currently the best attacking midfielder in the country.

With a red stripe running through his hair, Frederik Ljungberg passes more than glancing resemblance to a mischievous gremlin.

And in his current form the Swedish international is certainly a menace to opposition defences.

The 24-year-old was superb as Arsenal beat Juventus 3-1 at Highbury to ensure Arsene Wenger's team can enjoy the Champions League winter break in good shape.

Freddie improves every year, he becomes stronger physically and has improved a lot technically

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

Ljungberg scored twice, both goals the product of his willingness to push forward and take a chance.

His first goal showed a poacher's instinct, pouncing on a poor parry by Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

The midfielder's second goal - the crowning glory on the Gunners' best display of the season - was a delicate but courageous lob after a delicious through-ball by Dennis Bergkamp.

Once again, Ljungberg was the furthest forward of all Arsenal's players.

Five days before the win over Juventus, Ljungberg was inspirational in Arsenal's 2-0 win at Ipswich.

Attacking midfielders

Not only did he score, he was also fouled for Arsenal's penalty and made a goal-line clearance.

There are numerous attacking midfielders of enormous skill and ability in the Premiership.

But none are influencing games with the consistency and effect of Arsenal's extrovert Swede, perhaps with the exception of club-mate Robert Pires.

Paul Scholes - Manchester United's maestro of the deep run into the box - has been out of sorts this season as he tries to adjust to life in a midfield that includes Juan Sebastian Veron.

David Beckham has been outstanding as England captain but disappointing for his club.

And Lee Bowyer's off-the-field problems have restricted his appearances for Leeds United.

Gustavo Poyet, purposeful and experienced, has been superb at breaking forward for Tottenham, a bargain at £1.25m.

Ljungberg will play against England at the World Cup

Danny Murphy, the Premiership's Player of the Month for November, has made the breakthrough into the England team on the back of his industrious displays for Liverpool.

But, on current form, Ljungberg is almost peerless among the Premiership's attacking midfielders.

He arrived from Halmstads in September 1998 for a fee of £3m, seen by many as a replacement for the recently departed David Platt.

Ljungberg had impressed during Sweden's 2-1 win over England in a Euro 2000 qualifying match and was signed by Wenger shortly afterwards.

He quickly endeared himself to Arsenal's supporters by scoring in a 3-0 victory over Manchester United and has not looked back.

He quickly established himself as a regular in a midfield where places are at a premium, especially considering Patrick Vieira is guaranteed a starting berth.

Ljungberg scores the first of his two goals against Juventus

His stamina, distribution skill, pace and goals from midfield are all qualities that Wenger admires.

"Ljungberg was unbelievable," enthused Wenger after the win over Juventus. "He worked so hard to get on the end of things.

"I believe he improves every year. He becomes stronger physically and has improved a lot technically."

All of which will not have gone unnoticed by England's Swedish coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson.

England's opening game at the World Cup is against Eriksson's compatriots in Saitama on 2 June.

Ljungberg missed the recent 1-1 friendly but is relishing the prospect of trying to extend his country's proud 33-year unbeaten record against England.

"England will have a lot of pressure on them," said Ljungberg. "We will try to win and believe we can get through from the toughest group."

Eriksson's England will have to be aware of the threat posed by the popular Swede or Freddie could be England's very own nightmare.