Arsenal announce Van Persie out for 4-5 months

Arsenal have announced Robin van Persie will be out of action for FOUR MONTHS with his ankle injury.

Van Persie suffered extensive ligament damaged whilst playing for Holland against Italy earlier this month.

A club statement said: "Robin Van Persie returned to Arsenal on November 22nd following an ankle injury sustained whilst on international duty with Holland.

"The injury was expected to keep him out of action for between four and six weeks.

"Upon his return, the Arsenal medical team conducted a thorough review of his scans, his early injury management and the treatment he had received.

"Having scrutinised these in detail and assessed the response of his ankle, the Club's medical team concluded that further investigation and opinion was required.

"Advice was sought from the leading ankle specialist Mr Niek van Dijk, who confirmed that more extensive damage had been suffered than was first diagnosed.

"In order to repair his ankle, Robin will undergo surgery next week in Amsterdam to reconstruct the ligaments. The Club's medical team anticipate that a full recovery will take between four and five months."

Chelsea's Cole: Pressure on Arsenal to win

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole insists all the pressure will be on Arsenal when the two sides meet at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The 28 year old is desperate to play from the start against the Gunners after being left on the bench against Porto in the Champions League in midweek.
"The pressure is on them, no doubt about that with the gap, and getting a win there is a major result," said Cole.

"We have beaten Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham, so if we can beat Arsenal it is a fantastic start against the big clubs, followed by Manchester City and Everton, so the lads are excited.

"We haven't been in this position for a long time and do not want to let it slip.

"Everyone is dropping points, but Arsenal will be a threat on Sunday of course, they always are."

Cole insists Chelsea need to continue picking up points and is hopeful the Blues can claim the bragging rights in the capital tomorrow.

Cole added: "They could be without Gallas, Gibbs, Van Persie, who is a big miss for them, and Bendtner, who had a good start to the season as well, so they do have a few out.

"But we had some missing last week and coped with it well, so I am sure they'll be all right, as we have been.

"All the derbies are big aren't they? But this one is special, because over the past few years Arsenal have been the closest to Chelsea in the league, so there is a natural rivalry.

"They're all exciting to be a part of. There are a lot of foreign players in them now, but I remember going to school when we played Tottenham, Arsenal, West Ham and you always wanted to win so you could give your mates some stick. That's what it is all about.

"Where I grew up there was all Arsenal and Spurs fans really, and Arsenal had the bragging rights in those days but I'm getting even in recent years.

"Whatever happens we just need to keep winning. If we do that and suddenly we're in February and a few points clear, you realise you only need to win a few more and the prospect (of winning the title) becomes very real, so we just need to keep picking up points."

Arsenal skipper Cesc: Ramsey, Wilshere better than me

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas rates the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere as better than he was at the same age.

Indeed, Cesc fears Wales international Ramsey taking his place in the near future!

"Ramsey, Wilshere, Fran Merida. They are at the level of everyone. Perhaps even better than me. They are top class. In training, phew, they are so good," Cesc told the Daily Mail.

"Aaron has really developed. Physically he is bigger and more powerful, as you could see when we played Liverpool in the Carling Cup. If I go to sleep I will wake up and find him in my place. No, it is true. Wilshere will be a top player, too, and when he gets a bit older they will move him into the middle. They just need a run of games to gain confidence and they will be a big part of Arsenal’s future. A future I hope to be part of."

Arsenal, Chelsea chasing Sampdoria striker Pazzini

Arsenal and Chelsea are chasing Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini.

Italian sources say Arsenal are willing to offer £14 million for Pazzini, who has been likened to crocked Gunner Robin van Persie.

Samp are seeking closer to £22 million for the Italy international.

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has already admitted his admiration for Pazzini: "Pazzini? I love him so much, we'll see, but we cannot think of bringing all the players who we like to Chelsea."

Messi tells Cesc: You must leave Arsenal to win trophies

Barcelona ace Lionel Messi has told Cesc Fabregas he must quit Arsenal if he wants to win trophies.

Messi admits the signing of Cesc is a top of conversation inside the Barca locker room.

And he told The People: "I understand that Arsenal means a lot to Cesc.

"But there comes a point in your life when you have to think about winning the biggest prizes in football, and I think it has got to that point for him. He has given Arsenal great service, but he should be winning league titles and European Cups.

"I played for him with the youth team at Barcelona and you could tell he was a special player - he had great vision and passing range even then."

Arsenal linked with swap for Inter Milan pair Balotelli, Vieira

Arsenal are being linked with a multi-player swap offer involving skipper Cesc Fabregas.

Tuttosport says Gunners coach Arsene Wenger is chasing Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli and midfielder Patrick Vieira - and is willing to discuss a swap with Cesc moving in the opposite direction.

Wenger has long admired 18-year-old Balotelli, who has been called one of the brightest young talents in Italian football.

His power, pace and fiery attitude would be well-suited to the Premier League and he could seek a January switch for more regular playing time.

Former Gunners captain Vieira is also wanted by Wenger, well aware that this could be Cesc's final season at the Emirates.

Arsenal utility Eboue credits versatility to Ivory Coast education

Ahead of their clash against Sunderland, Arsenal utility Emmanuel Eboue says he owes his versatility to his Ivory Coast football education.

Arsene Wenger will have to shuffle the pack again tomorrow, with Mikael Silvestre and Eduardo likely to come in but Eboue is comfortable regardless of where he plays.

"Honestly, for me it doesn't matter where I am on the pitch. I try to give 100 per cent regardless of position and wish to show the fans that I am ready to give them my best form," the 28-year-old told the London Evening Standard.

"I have to thank Jean-Marc Guillou, whose academy back in the Ivory Coast I came through as a youngster, for that because he used to ask us to play all over the pitch.

"It means that wherever I am played, it is no problem. It's just very nice to have the chance to give my best for Arsenal.

"We have a lot of youngsters, so a player like me has to be ready at all times to use his experience and set an example."

Arsenal rocked by serious ankle injury for Van Persie

Arsenal have been rocked by a serious ankle injury suffered by striker Robin van Persie.

Van Persie was stretchered off during Holland's goalless friendly draw in Italy on Saturday night.

He damaged his ankle in a challenge with Giorgio Chiellini in the early stages of the clash.

Afterwards Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk suggested Van Persie had torn his ankle ligaments, although the extent of the injury will not be determined until Sunday when tests will be carried out on the striker.

If confirmed, Van Persie would be facing around two months on the sidelines - something which would threaten to derail Arsenal's Premier League title challenge.

Van Persie has scored seven league goals for the Gunners this season, helping them to second place in the current standings.

They trail leaders Chelsea by five points but have a game in hand on their London rivals.

Arsenal tracking Barcelona starlet Jeffren

Arsenal are tracking Barcelona starlet Jeffren.

The exciting winger is a January target for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, says Sport.

Jeffren is ready to leave Barca during the winter market, though is unlikely to get the immediate first team football at Arsenal that he craves.

Racing Santander are also keen.

Eduardo: Arsenal players happy silencing critics

Eduardo says Arsenal's players are enjoying silencing their critics.

The Croatia striker is delighted to see the Gunners amongst the title contenders.

"We are attractive and also efficient, we are scoring a lot of goals and the fans are happy," he said. "Everything is in place and our ambitions are growing stronger and stronger.

"We all believe so much that we will fight for top spot in the Premier League and also in Europe until the very end.

"Confidence is sky high which of course is not surprising, as our results are really very good. Now we are so proud, because at the start of the season everybody wrote us off.

"Nobody believed that we were good enough to play with the big boys. But we can and this is such a big motivation for us."

Arsenal's Gibbs admits fullback role down to luck

Arsenal youngster Kieran Gibbs admits it was only by chance that he ended up at left-back.

Gibbs owes his place and his role in the team to one misfortune and one intuitive team selection by Arsene Wenger.

He was originally part of the Wimbledon youth set-up, but was snapped up by Arsenal when the academy folded.

Gibbs was also a midfielder when he joined Arsenal – “Dennis Bergkamp was my hero” – but two years ago made the switch to left-back ahead of a Carling Cup game.

He said: “Armand Traore was injured and the boss switched me to left-back .

“I have been there ever since.”

Arsenal's Cesc impressed by Wolves style

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas admits he's a fan of today's opponents Wolves.

Wolves were promoted last season after winning the Championship and have produced some admirable displays on their return to the top flight.

Fabregas, 22, believes more sides are trying to play their way to success in the battle to stay among England's elite clubs.

"Maybe we are seeing teams throughout the division playing a little more football and trying to make passing combinations," said the Spain international.

"We should never forget that people pay a lot of money to watch football and do not want to see players just kicking the ball up into the air.

"I know it is difficult to play one-twos and things like that, but you have to try your best to make the game attractive because people pay to see good football."

Merida to resist Spain return for new Arsenal deal

Fran Merida will resist interest from Spain to remain with Arsenal.

The Sun says the Spanish teenager, who scored a stunner in last week's Carling Cup win over Liverpool, is out of contract at the end of the season.

Boss Arsene Wenger blocked a loan move to Levante last season. But fears have been mounting that he could quit the Emirates for nothing and return to his homeland.

Atletico Madrid are desperate to snap up Merida, 19, along with a host of other La Liga clubs.

But his agent, Joseba Diaz, insists the young striker wants to stay a Gunner.

Diaz said: "I am coming to London to discuss a new two-year deal with Arsenal with whom we have a very warm relationship."

Spurs legend Lineker: Keane will regret Arsenal comments

Tottenham hero Gary Lineker believes Robbie Keane will be regretting his claims that Spurs were the equal of Arsenal after yesterday's derby defeat.

In his column for the Mail on Sunday, Lineker wrote: "I would not have thought Robbie Keane enjoyed his Saturday night too much after Tottenham's 3-0 trouncing at the Emirates Stadium.

"As the Spurs captain, I'm sure Keane had the club's best intentions at heart when he said before the game that their squad had greater strength in depth than Arsenal's.

"He is probably regretting it now. Without Luka Modric, Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon, Spurs were not at their best and I'm sure that Keane realises he would have been better off keeping quiet.

"Arsenal would have been fired up for the game anyway but by making such a provocative statement, Keane probably put unnecessary pressure on himself. Leading his team out in the tunnel, he might have felt a need, even subconsciously, to try to justify his bold comments.

"When things started to go wrong, his mind would have flicked back to what he had said. On yesterday's evidence, the truth is that Keane was premature in comparing the two clubs."