Arsenal vs. Barcelona: Robin van Persie named in 15-man Gunners squad
Arsenal striker http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout round fixture at Nou Camp on Tuesday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted that Persie’s rapid recovery and positive fitness test result has forced him to name the striker in the 15-man squad.
Wenger said, “He has made quick progression in the last three days. This morning he was unlikely to travel, but he wanted to go so he had a test and it was quite positive. We will not take a gamble in a game of such importance. It will be fit or not fit.
Personally I would like him to play if possible, but I will only play him if he is 100 per cent fit.”
Robin van Persie was ruled out for more than six weeks after he tore his knee ligament while scoring the equaliser in Arsenal’s 2-1 Carling Cup defeat against Birmingham City on 27 February, 2011. However, Wenger confirmed that van Persie will undergo a
fitness test on Tuesday and the decision of starting with the Dutch striker will depend on the result of that test.
Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas also expressed his gratification over the addition of van Persie in the squad and claimed that the striker has shocked everyone with such a rapid recovery.
Fabregas 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.”
Moreover, Fabregas has also been named in the Gunners’ squad for the Nou Camp showdown. The Spanish midfielder was initially doubtful for the trip to his boyhood club however, Wenger earlier confirmed that Fabregas has a 90 per cent chance of playing in
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011.
Moreover, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jack-Wilshere-c17463, who was the Man of the Match in the first leg against Barcelona at Emirates, was also feared to miss the trip to Nou Camp. Wenger had cast doubts over his frailty as the midfielder suffered a few knocks in Arsenal’s stalemate encounter
with Sunderland at the Emirates recently. However, the 19-year-old was deemed fit by the Arsenal medical squad and has also been named in the final 15-man list.
The Gunners will also welcome back their veteran right-back http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-Song-c4804 was declared unfit after failing to recover from a knee injury which he sustained during
the Carling Cup final.
Addition of Cesc Fabregas and a shocking inclusion of Robin van Persie have surely boosted Arsenal’s hopes against Barcelona. The Gunners are leading the tie with a 2-1 win in the first leg. However, a goal for the Catalans at Nou Camp would end http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429’s
Champions League journey.
Tags: