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Arsenal have confirmed striker Robin van Persie will be ruled out for six weeks and will miss seven games at a crucial stage of the Premier League title fight.
The Dutchman was carried off on a stretcher during Saturday's friendly against Italy and scans conducted in Holland last night revealed he has ruptured ligaments in his right
ankle.
Van Persie suffered the injury following a full-blooded but fair tackle by Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini just 11 minutes into the match and had further tests in Rotterdam this morning before flying to see a specialist in Serbia.
Arsenal said in a statement: “Following the care given to Van Persie by the Dutch FA, he will travel back to London this week and continue his treatment with the Arsenal medical team at London Colney. Van Persie will be out of action for approximately six weeks.”
While the news is not as bad as was first feared because no bones were broken, it remains a savage blow to Arsenal's title hopes as he will miss Chelsea's visit to Emirates Stadium on 29 November and the trip to Liverpool in mid-December.
Van Persie has only managed to start just over half of Arsenal's League matches since the summer of 2006 but as Wenger remodelled his side in a 4-3-3 formation this season, he scored eight goals in 14 matches and has become the forward line's focal point.
Theo Walcott is expected to return to training this week but Nicklas Bendtner remains sidelined for a month after groin surgery, meaning Croatian forward Eduardo will be asked to lead the line in Van Persie's absence.
Reader views (10)
I wish RVP all the best. But I am going to love it even more when Arsenal start to slip down the table and lose a couple of games which will be great. I am a Spurs fan thats why I wish it to come true. But I do not wish any injuries upon anyone. I would be gutted if that was Jermain Defoe Wilson Palacios Tom Huddlestone etc one of Spurs key players to get injured anymore than Arsenal will be hating that their key players get injured. I can tell you Arsenal fans you have been quite lucky with injuries so far we have been without one of our key assets for nearly 2 months Luka Modric and that is no fun and also Aaron Lennon for 2 games as well so we have had injuries of our own and also Seb Bassong out for 4 weeks wont help out situation in defence.
- Seb Franklin, Kent, 16/11/2009 19:13
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Im amazed that people consider this tackle fair. You only have to see how Chiellini lanches himself ankle height with his studs showing, at Van Persie & the result is an injury caused by a reckless challenge. It must be remembered that the old concept of 'ball first' no longer applies, which makes tackles such as this one illegal in the modern game.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 16/11/2009 17:51
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Speedy Robin,we need you.
- Mr.D, Essex, 16/11/2009 16:03
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well its a shame to see him out breaks my heart, but i feel this was a fair tackle and V.Persie just came out worse chin up theres always next year????
- Chelsea Headhunter, England, 16/11/2009 15:32
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Sporting comment by Spurs fan, Manny.
RVP (and Arsenal) have been very unlucky with injuries over the past couple of seasons. RVP is a top class player and it's a shame for him to get injured just as he was hitting a rich vein of form for the club. Let's hope he makes a speedy recovery and is back to good form, a.s.a.p.
- Bottled-Banana, London, UK, 16/11/2009 13:45
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As a lifelong Tottenham fan, I genuinely wish him a speedy recovery and a rpompt return to the pitch!
He is an outstanding player and a credit to the game.
- Manny Goldstein, London, England, 16/11/2009 12:38
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Listen, I'm an avid Arsenal fan, but I'm afraid the other comments are wrong. It was a perfectly fair tackle. He wins the ball fair and square.
If you watch the video again, it is van Persie's standing leg that gets injured, caught by Chiellini's trailing leg.
It's unlucky but certainly not Chiellini's fault. He doesn't catch him studs up, nor is he tackling from behind or diving in recklessly; it's a fair challenge.
I'm not angry about the tackle, I'm just angry about the fact that RVP was even on the pitch for a completely meaningless friendly.
This is also why I was sympathetic when commenting last week on Lampard's injury because these worthless friendlies have a tendency to throw up injuries to our players too.
Let's just hope it's not as bad as first feared and he'll be back early in the New Year!
- Steven, London, 16/11/2009 12:25
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What an awful tackle. Why on earth are we so worried about diving when tackles like this go virtually unpunished? They should ban Chiellini for the rest of the season to send out a message that these types of tackles are unacceptable, especially in worthless friendlies.
- Rob Gooner, North Londonn, 16/11/2009 11:45
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a fair tackle? look at it in slow motion. he went in with studs up, and went straight through the ankle to play the ball. a nice clean tackle!! if we allow 'fair' tackles like this, there will be no fit players left on the field!!
- Tonyms, london, 16/11/2009 11:22
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Once again micky mouse international friendlies throw a spanner in the works. Thankfully RVP will be back round Xmas as at one stage I feared he could be out for the season. Time for Eduardo/Vela to step up to the plate. Mr Wenger could also possibly recall Simpson from QPR. Come on you Gunners and wishing a speedy recovery to RVP.
- Sean, Cork, Ireland, 16/11/2009 11:07
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