Wenger planning without van Persie

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is planning to be without Robin van Persie for the rest of the season as he believes the striker could be ruled out until May.

The 26-year-old Dutchman suffered an ankle injury while on international duty in November and was initially expected to return to full fitness in six weeks.

Instead surgery was required, and Wenger concedes the problem will keep Van Persie sidelined for several more months, although he should be well set for the World Cup in South Africa which begins in June.

“If you are very positive you would say [he’ll be back in] April,” Wenger told Arsenal’s website. “If you’re a bit cautious you say May. It is virtually the rest of the season.

“Personally I thought, ’Let’s put it in my head that he will not play again this season and hope that I will have a good surprise’.”

Wenger is confident Van Persie will make a full recovery and return as strong as ever.

He said the striker’s surgeon was confident Van Persie would be the same player when he returns, and that the Dutchman had avoided suffering an infection.

Wenger added: “At the moment he cannot do anything, he is just sitting at home waiting until he can work again. The first two steps have been very successful.”

With such an important member of his attack gone, Wenger is expected to dip into the transfer market next month.

The French manager admitted he would have no problem signing a player who is cup-tied for the Champions League, just as he did in signing Andriy Arshavin last January.

Wenger said: “We are going for the domestic title and the FA Cup as well and doing that allows you to rest a player for the Champions League or play another player in the Premier League.

“Of course I would prefer the player who can play in both competitions and so it would mean the player has the quality to play in the long-term for Arsenal Football Club.

“But we have an interested eye on the transfer window and if the right player turns up then we will do it.

“Sometimes you think that is a bargain you cannot turn down and don’t forget Arshavin got us in the Champions League last season.”