Van Persie injury causes concern

Arsenal FC have been dealt a blow with the news that Robin van Persie's thigh injury is worse than anticipated, making him a doubt for the English club's UEFA Champions League first knockout round meeting with AC Milan.

Dutch doubt
Dutch international forward Van Persie picked up the problem in the first leg of Arsenal's English League Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur FC on 9 January and subsequently missed last weekend's Premier League draw against Birmingham City FC. The 24-year-old, who has made only eight league appearances during an injury-blighted season, will now be out for several weeks and could sit out the first leg of Arsenal's tie against Milan on 20 February.

Djourou sidelined
The fitness of defender Johan Djourou is also a question mark for the match at the Arsenal Stadium after he collected a groin injury in the Tottenham game. "Djourou is out. He has had an inflammation of his groin and in the next two weeks he will not be able to play," manager Arsène Wenger said of the 20-year-old Swiss international, who spent the first half of the campaign loaned to Birmingham. Wenger has better news regarding midfielder Tomáš Rosický, however, who is expected to return to face Fulham FC on Saturday after recovering from illness.