Arsenal caretaker boss Freddie Ljungberg admits he's trying to protect their young players as the team spirals.

The Swede admitted he is hiding some of the club's brighter young talents to protect them from the club's current troubles.

“I felt I wanted to play the experienced players when it is such a difficult situation like it is at the moment," he said.

“I did not want to put out all the younger players who are going to make a difference to the future of this club. I wanted to put out the older players who can take responsibility for the big games. We need to change this downward spiral.

“West Ham have great fans and it is going to be a great occasion but maybe that is good for our players.

“They can relax a little bit and maybe just concentrate on the game. Hopefully they will do what we did when we came out in the second half against Brighton on Thursday."