Wenger not expecting RvP return

Arsenal boss not expecting striker to return this season - but hopes to receive a 'good surprise'

By Steve Pass   Last updated: 22nd December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger not expecting RvP return

Van Persie: Out injured

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is not expecting Robin van Persie to play again this season - but is hoping to be proved wrong.

The Dutch striker faces months on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury while on international duty in November.

He has since had surgery to rectify the problem and is not due to return until April at the earliest.

But Wenger is not expecting him back at all this term.

The Gunners boss told the club's official website: "If you are very positive you would say April.

"If you're a bit cautious you say May. It is virtually the rest of the season.

"Personally I thought 'Let's put it in my head that he will not play again this season and hope that I will have a good surprise'."

Saving grace

But the one saving grace is that Wenger is confident Van Persie will come back as good a player as he was before.

The Frenchman added: "When you have such a big surgery there is one thing that is important first of all, and that is the opinion of the surgeon, will he be the player he was before?

"We had a clear answer: 'Yes'.

"The second thing that is very important in the first stage after surgery is has he an infection or not? He hasn't.

"The third thing is patience. At the moment he cannot do anything, he is just sitting at home waiting until he can work again.

"The first two steps have been very successful."

Transfer talk

With such an important member of his attack gone, Wenger is expected to dip into the transfer market next month and the Frenchman admitted he would have no problem signing a player who is cup-tied for the Champions League, just as he did in signing Andrey Arshavin last January.

"Yes, I would," Wenger said when asked. "We are going for the domestic title and the FA Cup as well and doing that allows you to rest a player for the Champions League or play another player in the Premier League.

"Of course I would prefer the player who can play in both competitions and so it would mean the player has the quality to play in the long-term for Arsenal Football Club.

"But we have an interested eye on the transfer window and if the right player turns up then we will do it.

"Sometimes you think that is a bargain you cannot turn down and don't forget Arshavin got us in the Champions League last season."

Comments (2)

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Shibbir Ahmed (Arsenal fan) says...

in my opinion I think that arsenal should go for a young talented player, for example maybe Pato from AC millan or maybe Bojan from barcalona. Or they could go for a bit of a experinced player, with the likes of Huntelaar from AC millan. They could even go for chamakh or even former Arsenal player Henry.

Posted 22:23 22nd December 2009

Tony Bowling (Manchester United fan) says...

I wish we could do something to reduce the amount of injuries. I do not care what team a player plays for it is a loss for us all when a top player gets injured as RVP has.

Posted 21:54 22nd December 2009
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