|
ARSENAL are optimistic that striker Robin van Persie, captain Cesc Fabregas and winger Theo Walcott could all be fit to face Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, a game the club must win if they are to sustain the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester United.
Van Persie came off at half-time with a knee injury after a challenge from Hungary’s Vilmos Vanczak in the Netherlands’ 5-3 victory in Amsterdam on Tuesday, and Arsenal were yesterday awaiting results of a scan.
But the club are hopeful that the injury will not prove serious. After the Euro 2012 qualifier, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said: “He was hit by a knee just above his own. It didn’t look serious but it was too painful for him to carry on. With luck he could play for Arsenal this weekend.”
Earlier this season Van Persie missed three months with an ankle injury picked up on international duty. He also recovered faster than expected from a knee injury sustained in the Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham, and was back in time for the trip to Barcelona 10 days later.
Arsenal are also optimistic that Fabregas, Walcott, Alex Song and Abou Diaby have recovered from their respective injuries and will be given the all-clear to return for the vital Premier League match against Blackburn. Arsenal are five points behind leaders Manchester United but have played a game fewer.
Fabregas has been out since he suffered a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s 3-1 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League on March 8, and has since missed the club’s FA Cup exit to Manchester United and the disappointing Premier League draw with West Bromwich Albion.
Song has not played since injuring his knee in the Carling Cup final, while Walcott has been sidelined since damaging his ankle in the league victory over Stoke last month. Abou Diaby missed the 2-2 draw with West Bromwich with a groin injury.
Jens Lehmann described his Arsenal comeback for the reserves in a 2-1 defeat against Wigan as “very beneficial”, despite making a string of mistakes. The 41-year-old German has come out of retirement to act as cover following injuries to Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski.
Lehmann said: “It was very beneficial. Physically I felt well because I’ve trained hard during the last few weeks. Unfortunately, we lost.”
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson warmed up for Saturday’s Premier League trip to West Ham United with another attack on the state of English refereeing.
Ferguson, who is serving a touchline ban for his comments about Martin Atkinson, the referee in his side’s defeat to Chelsea at the beginning of the month, remains scathing.
“I think the last few games we’ve had terrible decisions against us and you’ve just got to be careful you don’t have paranoia about it,” he said.
Despite his concerns, United stand five points clear at the top of the table, although they have played a game more than second-placed Arsenal.
West Ham, resurgent of late with only one defeat in their last seven Premier League games, have already beaten United once this season, hammering them 4-0 in the League Cup.
Forward Frederic Piquionne could return from a foot injury for the Hammers, who lie fourth-bottom, out of the relegation zone only on goal difference.
Third-placed Chelsea travel to Stoke City, while Manchester City in fourth host a Sunderland side that has taken just one point from its last six games.
Part of that is down to a quirk of the fixture list that has seen Sunderland face five of the top six in that run of games, but they stand just six points off the relegation zone and, in this least predictable of seasons, could be sucked into a relegation battle.
Fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, desperately looking to qualify for the Champions League for the second successive season, travel to Wigan Athletic, who are bottom but just two points form safety.
Second-bottom Birmingham City host Bolton Wanderers, while Wolverhampton Wanderers, in the third relegation slot, go to Newcastle United. West Bromwich Albion, unbeaten since Roy Hodgson took charge, are home to Liverpool and Aston Villa go to Everton. Sunday’s lunchtime game sees Fulham host Blackpool. — DailyMail.
 |
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
