Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger ready to gamble by playing Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has admitted that he will take biggest gamble of his life by playing club captain Cesc Fabregas and Vice-captain http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robin-van-Persie-c31380 against Barcelona in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League knock out round at Nou Camp.
Wenger said, “I would like Van Persie to play but he has to be 100 per cent. I will consider 99.5 per cent. There are two kinds of problem. Fabregas was muscular, Van Persie is a ligament. Of the two, muscles are more the risk. With Van Persie, it's just
a case of does he feel fit to play or not. He's made quick progress in the last few days. When I spoke in the morning, it was unlikely that he would travel. He was keen to have a go.”
Arsenal stunned the whole world and especially Barcelona when they named their talismanic striker Robin van Persie in the 15-man squad for the Nou Camp showdown. The Dutch striker was completely ruled out of the Spain’s trip after sustaining knee ligament
while scoring the equaliser in Arsenal’s Carling Cup final defeat against Birmingham City.
Persie was part of Arsenal’s full training yesterday as he came on for the first time after sustaining a knee injury two weeks ago. Arsene Wenger confirmed that Persie will undergo a fitness test on Tuesday and the decision of playing the Dutch striker would
depend on the result of the test.
However, Arsene Wenger is more concerned about his skipper, Cesc Fabregas, who also made a rapid recovery after pulling his hamstring in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Stoke City on 23 February. The Spaniard was initially doubtful for the trip to his boyhood club,
Barcelona, but it was earlier confirmed by Arsene Wenger that Fabregas has a 90 per cent chance of featuring at Nou Camp.
Moreover, Cesc Fabregas also expressed his contentment over the shock inclusion of Robin Van Persie and claimed that the striker’s addition to the squad has boosted Arsenal’s chances at Nou Camp. Cesc said, “Robin is a very important player for us as he's
a complete striker and understands the game very well. For a midfield player he gives you lots of options. I'm very surprised he might play as this morning we didn't know anything. He woke up saying he felt really great and wanted to practise.”
Arsenal are leading the tie by two goals to one, however, a goal for the Barcelona at Nou Camp could potentially put an end to the Gunners’ Champions League Campaign. The north London Giants have never won UEFA Champions League and Arsene Wenger is likely
to take a gamble by fielding Fabregas and Persie in order to march through to the next round.
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