Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hopes winger Fredrik Ljungberg will be able to return to action in next week's Champions League tie in Greece after undergoing a scan on a hamstring injury on Friday.

Ljungberg is out of Saturday's clash against Aston Villa, along with Gilberto Silva (back), Gael Clichy (ankle), Manuel Almunia (shin) and Edu, who returned from international duty with Brazil on Friday morning.

Jermaine Pennant is doubtful after sustaining a knock to his knee, while Wenger is hoping Robin van Persie has fully recovered from the after-effects of a car crash.

Villa keeper Stefan Postma will make his first appearance of the season at Highbury on Saturday.

Postma will replace Thomas Sorensen who suffered a back problem while on World Cup duty with Denmark.

Villa boss and former Gunner David O'Leary will not consider Juan Pablo Angel or Nolberto Solano for the starting line-up after mid-week exertions in South America with Colombia and Peru respectively.

Thomas Hitzlsperger will return in midfield after being on the substitutes' bench for the last three games while Darius Vassell will replace Angel up front. Carlton Cole has shaken off an ankle injury suffered with England Under-21s.

Teams
Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Taylor, Lauren, Cole, Campbell, Toure, Cygan, Senderos, Vieira, Fabregas, Flamini, Pires, Reyes, Pennant, van Persie, Henry, Bergkamp.
Aston Villa (from): Postma, De la Cruz, Mellberg, Delaney, Samuel, Hendrie, McCann, Hitzlsperger, Barry, Vassell, Cole, Angel, Solano, Whittingham, Henderson, L. Moore, Davis.