Call of Duty: Persie Picked for Holland without Arsenal Wishes
On Wednesday night, Dutch national team’s coach, Bert van Marwijk named Robin Van Persie in his squad for the match against Turkey by defying the wishes of Arsenal manager in selecting his star striker.
The coach of Holland’s national team has previously been cautioned by Arsene Wenger that it would be total unfair to name Arsenal star forward, Robin Van Persie in the squad for Holland. Van Persie is out of action since August after sustaining
an ankle injury against Blackpool. Since then, Van Persie has not played a single match in Arsenal colours.
However, a week ago, Arsene Wenger claimed that his star striker is likely to return to full training at the end of this week. But, Bert VM, obviously wishes to make his own check on the player ahead of the crucial fixture against Turkey.
The inclusion of Robin Van Persie came in the press release yesterday and surprisingly yet again Manchester City’s ruthless player, Nigel de Jong was excluded from the Dutch national squad.
However, Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger publicly gave his stance on the issue and showed discontent especially if his striker is telling his national team coach that he will be available to feature.
Arsenal star striker from left of the field is under pressure not just because of the injury but because he has to make a comeback. The reason is the severe ankle injury he suffered last year while playing a friendly match for the Dutch
national team. That injury lasted for 6 months and he was ruled out for rest of the season. He made a comeback in summers and featured in all the matches of Holland in FIFA World Cup.
Wenger said on his striker’s availability for the National team: “I think the Dutch coach has a good sense of humour - there is no chance. That would be an absolute scandal if he plays in a friendly and not a competition here.
He would not be ready. The players have to perform for their clubs first. If they are OK for their club they can play for their national team. You cannot have the reverse. I don’t know, he has not played or practiced with the team so I’m quite surprised he
is in the national team."
On a similar issue, Manchester City’s ‘terminator’ De Jong was again dropped from the 24-man squad of Holland. He was dropped from the last two matches as a penalty for his ruthless tackle on Hatem Ben Arfa’s which broke Hatem’s leg.
Other than Van Persie, there are also numbers of players who are injured but yet they are named in Holland Squad.
Holland squad:
Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Peter Wisgerhof (Twente), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven), Wilfred Bouma (PSV), John Heitinga (Everton), Hedwiges Maduro
(Valencia), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Theo Janssen (Twente), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Eljero Elia (Hamburg), Klaas
Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Jeremain Lens (PSV), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Hamburg) and Robin van Persie (Arsenal).
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