Arsenal without Van Persie for six weeks
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
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Arsenal FC will have to make do without Robin van Persie for their first two UEFA Champions League group games after the Netherlands striker sustained an ankle injury.
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Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger has again been denied the services of Robin van Persie for an extended period after the Netherlands striker was ruled out until the middle of October with an ankle injury.
Van Persie made just 14 Premier League starts last season but nevertheless returned to fitness in time to feature in every game of his country's run to this summer's FIFA World Cup final. The 27-year-old appeared as a substitute in Arsenal's first two league fixtures this term before being taken off 34 minutes into his first start, against Blackburn Rovers FC on 28 August.
He will now miss his club's opening two matches of the UEFA Champions League group stage – at home to SC Braga on Wednesday week and at FK Partizan on 28 September – as well as a League Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur FC and a top-flight trip to titleholders Chelsea FC. Van Persie is also likely to be sidelined for the Netherlands' UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers against Moldova on 8 October and Sweden four days later.
