Arsenal‘s Dutch forward Robin Van Persie is back in the squad for Wednesday’s North London derby at Tottenham Hotspur after a long injury layoff, manager Arsene Wenger said.
Van Persie has been out since November with ankle ligament damage sustained on international duty and will most likely be on the bench at White Hart Lane.
“He is in the squad for tomorrow’s game,” Wenger told a news conference on Tuesday. “It’s a bit premature maybe (for him to start) so I will see but he is in the squad.
“He will feature. When I pick a player it means he is fit and sharp and has worked very hard. Of course, he lacks match practice but physically he is ready, he is fit.”
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Arsenal star striker Robin van Persie will be out for up to six weeks following a rough challenge from Giorgio Chiellini of Italy during the friendly between Holland and Italy.
“I have had a scan. I am probably out for between four and six weeks,” Van Persie told Dutch television program Studio Voetbal on Sunday night.
But the in-form 26-year-old absolved Juventus defender Chiellini of blame, saying: “There was no intent.”
Van Persie’s absence could seriously undermine Arsenal’s bid to catch Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.
In 11 league games this season, Van Persie has scored seven goals and contributed to seven more in Arsenal’s impressive surge up the standings. Although the Gunners are five points behind Chelsea in second place, they have a game in hand and host the Blues on November 29.
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Emmanuel Adebayor will not regret stamping on his former Arsenal teammate Robin van Persie because he did not intend to hurt him.
The Football Association have hit Adebayor with a three-match ban for violent conduct following an incident in Manchester City‘s 4-2 win over Arsenal last weekend.
The Togo international caught Van Persie in the head during the second half, but continues to protest his innocence by stressing he did not intend to hurt his ex-strike partner.
“I am sorry Robin got hurt, but I can’t regret something I did not mean to do,” Adebayor told The Sun.
“Anybody who knows me knows I would not set out to hurt anybody and I would especially not mean to hurt an old team-mate.
“I really am glad Robin was OK because I know my stud was close to his eye, but there was really nothing I could have done – there was no way I could have got out of the way in time.”
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Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has recovered from his groin strain and will return to the squad for the second leg semifinal in the UEFA Champions League against Manchester United on Tuesday night.
The Dutch international, Arsenal’s leading scorer this season, has been out since April 18 and is likely to rejoin Togo target man Emmanuel Adebayor up front as the Londoners bid to overturn a 1-0 deficit at their Emirates stadium.
“He is available and he is in the squad,” Wenger told reporters on Monday. “He is one of those players who gives me an opportunity to make a (selection) decision, but we are very conscious that it is all about our team performance tomorrow.”
Former United defender Mikael Silvestre was also included in Arsenal’s squad but faces a late test on a groin problem.
“Everybody is very focused and we are ready for the game,” the Frenchman said. “It is important to have everyone available and in the squad for this kind of game.”
Wenger rested eight of those who played in the first leg for Saturday’s 3-0 win at Portsmouth and said that decision had given him a refreshed group.
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The Holland forward hopes the radical medical treatment will speed up his recovery from a nasty ankle injury sustained in Saturday’s friendly against Italy.
