Van Persie blow as Gunners seek to catch up

THE irony was not lost on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after striker Robin van Persie was ruled out for at least six weeks with a broken foot.

Dutchman Van Persie, the team’s leading scorer, sustained a fractured metatarsal bone scoring the equaliser after coming on as a substitute in the 2-1 victory over Man Utd on Sunday.

However, Wenger’s tactical decision has proved bitter-sweet with Van Persie likely to be absent for a lengthy period just as Arsenal were looking to step up their efforts to chase down United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

“It will be six weeks at least if not more. It is a big blow, but we have to take it. What is terrible for me is that I did not want to use him at all [against Manchester United],” said the Gunners boss.

“We were 1-0 behind and I decided to put him on — but he got injured and you can never predict that.”

Wenger has no time to worry about what to do in Van Persie’s absence and insists his young Gunners have “earned the right” to play in tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final.

“It is very difficult to say ‘Listen you are good enough to play at Liverpool, but you are not good enough to play at Tottenham’. They have earned the right.”

Wenger said midfielder Abou Diaby, 20, is set for a place in the side following an horrific ankle injury sustained against Sunderland last May.