Shocking! Just before Barcelona vs Arsenal kicks off on Tuesday, Arsene Wenger has included Robin van Persie in his roster. Meanwhile, the striker was set to be sidelined until the end of March!
According to ESPN Soccernet, Robin van Persie was pictured training with the rest of his team mates on Monday. In the first leg of the Gunners’ UEFA Champions League tie against Barcelona, the Dutch striker scored a wonder goal to initiate a remarkable comeback for Arsenal.
However, he suffered a knee injury during his team’s Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham City. It was subsequently understood that Robin van Persie would be sidelined for no less than three weeks as Coach Arsene Wenger explained in a post-match comment after the Carling Cup final on February 27:
“I’m not a specialist, but he [Robin van Persie] overstretched his knee at the back when he made the volley [to score against Birmingham City].
“It’s a ligament at the back of the knee, a tear in the ligament. It is three to four weeks; I take the short delay because I am an optimist but it could be four.”
But with the calendar clearly stating that two weeks haven’t even gone by since the beginning of the month of March, Robin van Persie’s inclusion in Arsene Wenger’s 19-man squad ahead of Barcelona vs Arsenal has come out as the shocking news of the day. The Gunners’ roster, which will have to be cut to an 18-man list, goes as follows:
Goalkeepers: Almunia, Szczesny
Defenders: Djourou, Clichy, Eboue, Gibbs, Koscielny, Sagna, Squillaci
Midfielders: Fabregas, Arshavin, Wilshere, Rosicky, Nasri, Diaby, Denilson
Forwards: Bendtner, Chamakh, Van Persie.
Which of these 19 players mentioned above won't survive the cut?
However, he suffered a knee injury during his team’s Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham City. It was subsequently understood that Robin van Persie would be sidelined for no less than three weeks as Coach Arsene Wenger explained in a post-match comment after the Carling Cup final on February 27:
“I’m not a specialist, but he [Robin van Persie] overstretched his knee at the back when he made the volley [to score against Birmingham City].
“It’s a ligament at the back of the knee, a tear in the ligament. It is three to four weeks; I take the short delay because I am an optimist but it could be four.”
But with the calendar clearly stating that two weeks haven’t even gone by since the beginning of the month of March, Robin van Persie’s inclusion in Arsene Wenger’s 19-man squad ahead of Barcelona vs Arsenal has come out as the shocking news of the day. The Gunners’ roster, which will have to be cut to an 18-man list, goes as follows:
Goalkeepers: Almunia, Szczesny
Defenders: Djourou, Clichy, Eboue, Gibbs, Koscielny, Sagna, Squillaci
Midfielders: Fabregas, Arshavin, Wilshere, Rosicky, Nasri, Diaby, Denilson
Forwards: Bendtner, Chamakh, Van Persie.
Which of these 19 players mentioned above won't survive the cut?
