Van Persie out for a minimum of three weeksRobin van Persie will be missing for at least three weeks with the knee problem he picked up in the Carling Cup Final. The Dutchman got the injury while scoring Arsenal’s equaliser late in the first half. He soldiered on until the 68th minute before being substituted.
Speaking to TV Online on Tuesday afternoon, Arsène Wenger confirmed the extent of the problem and that the striker will be out the crucial Champions League game at Barcelona next week.
Alex Song also picked up a knee injury on Sunday and misses Wednesday’s FA Cup Fifth Round replay with Leyton Orient but he should be back for the European game.
Laurent Koscielny collected a small hamstring problem at Wembley and will be given a rest against the League One side. As at Brisbane Road, Manuel Almunia is in goal while Wojciech Szczesny will be on the bench. Abou Diaby is likely to start having been omitted from the squad for Wembley.
However the main news concerned Van Persie.
“Unfortunately, we had bad news on the scan and he will be out for the next three weeks for sure,” said Wenger. “It could be longer. The shortest delay we can imagine is three weeks [so] he is definitely out for Barcelona. “Alex Song has a knee problem as well. From his scan we had good news, it is only blood from a kick on the outside of his knee. He is out for Leyton Orient and has a very small chance for Saturday. But he has a good chance for Barcelona.
“Koscielny has a tight hamstring. There is a little bit of fatigue in there aswell so we will give him a breather.
“Almunia needs games so he will play but Wojciech is alright and will be on the bench.
“Diaby was not in the squad on Sunday. I was cautious with him. He has missed many games this season and I did not want to take a gamble with the intensity of a cup final. He will play on Wednesday night.”
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/van-persie-out-for-a-minimum-of-three-weeksFabregas is a ‘possible’ for Barcelona tripCesc Fabregas is a “possible” for the game at Barcelona on Tuesday. The Arsenal captain has been nursing a hamstring problem since hobbling off in the early stages of the 1-0 win over Stoke last Wednesday. The Spaniard missed the Carling Cup defeat to Birmingham on Sunday and will also sit out the FA Cup tie with Leyton Orient and the Premier League game against Sunderland at the weekend. But he could be back for the return with Barcelona.
“Cesc is looking possible [for that game],”” Arsène Wenger told TV Online on Tuesday. “He is making quick and good progress. It is possible.” That Stoke game also cost Arsenal the services of Theo Walcott. The winger has been already ruled out of the Champions League Knockout Round second leg tie at the Nou Camp and is still a fortnight away.
“He is out,” said Wenger. “We said from the day he got the injury against Stoke you could count three weeks.”
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