Decision tomorrow on van Persie

Prosecutors will decide tomorrow whether to pursue a rape case against Arsenal’s young Dutch star Robin van Persie.

The striker is being held in custody in Rotterdam after a woman alleged he launched a sex attack on her late on Saturday night.

Prosecution spokeswoman Jei Chen de Graaf said: “He was arrested on Monday. He is at least going to be in custody until tomorrow.

“Tomorrow, we will decide if we are going to hold him for longer, although strictly speaking we do have three days. The investigation is in full motion right now.

“He is now a suspect and, according to the findings of the investigation, if we want to hold him for longer than three days we have to ask a judge, and then he could be held for a further 14 days.”

Dutch media reported that the incident took place in a Rotterdam nightclub.

Van Persie has hired high profile Dutch lawyer Abraham Moszkowicz who said his client was innocent.

Mr Moszkowicz said: “I know the class of the young lady concerned – how, I can’t tell you – and I put large question marks around the truth content of her story.”

If convicted, the 21-year-old footballer could be jailed for as long as 12 years, although sentences are usually shorter than that.

Arsenal were remaining tight-lipped about the affair and made no comment.

At the weekend Van Persie, who was born in Rotterdam, stressed his desire to stay at Arsenal long-term and to learn from fellow Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp.

Van Persie scored for the Netherlands in a World Cup qualifying match against Finland last Wednesday.

The player joined Arsenal last year from Feyenoord and began to force his way into the first team towards the end of last season, scoring twice in the FA Cup semi-final win over Blackburn.

In October he crashed his BMW, leaving the car upside down at the scene without informing police.

No one was injured and Van Persie wasn’t charged with any offence.

He was sent off for elbowing Manchester United’s Kieran Richardson in December and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger later said Van Persie needed to “keep his nerves under control and not get overexcited”.