Van Persie: United still team to beat
The Holland striker returned to action against Steaua Bucharest following almost two months out with a knee problem, and now hopes to be given the chance to face Chelsea in Sunday’s top-of-the-table showdown at the Emirates Stadium.
While the 24-year-old has every “respect” for the challenge Avram Grant’s men will present, he believes it is champions United who will be the side to finish above come May.
“I just think our biggest rivals at the end of the season are Man U, because of the quality,” Van Persie said. “They have lots of quality players up there who can win games for the team. Even when they are playing poorly, they have [Wayne] Rooney, they have [Cristiano] Ronaldo and lots of good strikers who can win games. That is why I think it will be a battle between Arsenal and them.”
Victory for Chelsea, themselves on an impressive 16-match unbeaten run, would move them level with their opponents.
After Arsenal suffered a surprise defeat at struggling Middlesbrough last week, Van Persie knows there can be little margin for error.
“It’s quite close. Chelsea is just behind Arsenal and Man U,” he said. “We need to win on Sunday. It’s not about a draw or anything else. We need to win because we are just one point clear of Man U. That’s why we need to win.”
He added: “In games against teams like Middlesbrough, you can sort of collect bonus points. You need to win those games so you can, in a worse case scenario, lose a game against Chelsea or Man U. That was why I was a little bit disappointed with last Sunday.”
Arsene Wenger has injury concerns over the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb. But Van Persie, who completed 64 minutes against Steaua, is ready to play.
He said: “I’m fit and I’m available. I’m not 100% yet. You need games. You need rhythm. I can easily make 60-65 minutes, but after two months out you cannot make 90 minutes. Maybe next time I can do 75-80 minutes, or come on as a sub. I don’t mind.”
Arsenal have not beaten Chelsea in the last three seasons, but van Persie insists the squad are ready to show their ability.
“Chelsea have a good side. They play a different style to us and respect to them,” he said. “We play our style and, if we are at the top of our game, we can beat anybody.”
He added: “Almost everyone is waiting that we fall down — but we are not going to fall down. Of course we are going to lose maybe two or three games and have a few draws. That’s normal.
“But I am at the training ground every single day and I know what these guys are capable of. These are serious guys.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has indicated that Van Persie could well line up against the Blues.
“At the moment, he does not have the green light medically,” said Wenger. “Once he gets that, we have to test him on the pitch with the other players and then we can make a decision.”
Wenger maintained it was still “very early” to make any predictions as to the likelihood of his midfield trio returning to the squad on Sunday, and refused to be drawn on whether Jens Lehmann would retain the goalkeeper’s jersey after his recall on Wednesday.
“The question marks are against Flamini, Fabregas and Hleb,” Wenger said. “They are practising, but not with the team. They are not in normal training. Who will come back into normal training before Sunday? It could be one, two or three.
“It is too early to say, and the selection will depend on that because you can gamble on one or two — but not five.”
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