Wenger appeals for ‘common sense’ in Van Persie row

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger maintains common sense must prevail over Robin van Persie’s club-versus-country row.

The Holland striker has returned to training for the first time since being sidelined by an ankle problem at the end of August. However, that has not stopped Dutch boss Bert van Marwijk including the forward in his provisional squad for the friendly against Turkey on November 17 — and declared he would have “no hesitation” in selecting the Gunners striker.

Russia boss Dick Advocaat, meanwhile, has every intention of selecting Andrey Arshavin for their game with Belgium despite opting to rest others, claiming Wenger was “always moaning about something,” although the Belgians will not consider centre-half Thomas Vermaelen who is closing in on a return from an achilles problem.

Said Wenger: “At the moment, Robin van Persie is coming back from injury, we are concerned to use him at our club and you can understand we are a bit less concerned that he automatically plays in a friendly. Everyone of you has common sense and can completely agree with that. It does not look to me surreal that we wish him to play for us.”

Wenger continued: “Holland is not my problem at the moment, my problem is to play the game against Newcastle on Sunday. All the rest is down to the rules that are in place in the international game. What can I do about that? Not a lot.

“I am not a big influence on that and I believe the most important thing is that we prepare well for our game on Sunday, try to win the game and let everybody else talk.”

Arsenal will have captain Cesc Fabregas available again after the Spain midfielder did not travel to Shakhtar Donetsk because of a slight hamstring strain, while Andrey Arshavin (virus) and Alex Song (calf) also return.

Wenger is expecting a response from the midweek defeat, which had started so well following Theo Walcott’s early goal.

“It is a big lesson for us — our urgency was not good enough, from up front to the back, defensively we were not good enough. That is the thing we have to correct.”

Meanwhile Wenger has revealed his concerns over Abou Diaby’s ankle injury, admitting he is not sure when the midfielder will be able to play again.

The 24-year-old has been out of action since October 16 after failing to fully recover from the effects of a crunching challenge by Bolton defender Paul Robinson in September.

Diaby suffered a broken leg and a dislocated ankle against Sunderland in May 2006, but returned to become a key member of Wenger’s side.

However, Wenger feels the France international could be set for another long spell on the sidelines.

“You look at Diaby since he got this tackle (from Robinson), he has never come back to a normal level,” Wenger said.

“He was never himself and today we have worries for him. We don’t know how long he will be out.

“He has seen two surgeons already and at the moment we have to be patient to see if he can get away with it.”