Arsenal v Wigan Athletic:ROBIN VAN Persie is set to play in Arsenal's quarter-final against Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium tonight with Arsene Wenger hoping the Netherlands striker will seize the opportunity in what is effectively his second comeback from ankle-ligament damage, reports David Hytner.
Van Persie, who suffered the injury at Blackburn Rovers at the end of August, was passed fit at the beginning of this month but his return to the Arsenal team has been muted. In the six matches for which he has been available he has appeared in only two, as a substitute, against Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur – his total game time has been 54 minutes – and last week Wenger left him in London when the squad travelled to Portugal for the Champions League group game against Braga.
The manager wanted him to work on his fitness, which he did, but the fact Van Persie spent further time wearing a protective boot on his left foot indicated the club’s medical staff were not entirely convinced the injury had healed. Van Persie was an unused substitute in the 4-2 win at Aston Villa on Saturday.
The 27-year-old has made one other appearance this month, in the second-half of the Netherlands’ 1-0 friendly victory over Turkey in Amsterdam on November 17th. Wenger was furious with the Netherlands coach, Bert van Marwijk, for naming Van Persie in his provisional squad, insisting he was not fully fit.
Wigan’s visit offers the opportunity for Van Persie to blow away the cobwebs, and show not just his manager but the Arsenal support he could yet be their trump card as the season turns. Arsenal are only two points off the Premier League’s summit and are a home win over the Group H whipping boys Partizan Belgrade away from the Champions League’s last 16. “Robin will certainly play, yes, but I haven’t decided my starting line-up yet,” Wenger said. “Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner will be involved but I don’t want to give the team out.”
Wenger was asked whether Van Persie’s selection would necessitate a change of style as he was a different type of striker to Marouane Chamakh. “Yes, a little bit,” Wenger replied. “Robin can play on his own up front and he can play in behind so I will have to think about that overnight.”
Wenger will be without the centre-half Sebastien Squillaci, who has a knee problem but, remarkably, Emmanuel Eboue is back in the squad. The Ivorian was stretchered off against Braga last Tuesday with damage to a medial knee ligament and Wenger said he would be out for possibly up to six weeks but Eboue has turned out to be fine. Guardian Service
