Champions League - Van Persie in Arsenal squad

Eurosport - Tue, 05 May 14:36:00 2009

Striker Robin van Persie has recovered from a groin strain and returns to Arsenal's squad for the Champions League semi-final second leg against holders Manchester United.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Arsenal Robin van Persie - 0

Click on the link below the photo for predicted line-ups, match facts and players to watch.

The Dutch international, Arsenal's leading scorer this season, has been out since April 18 and is likely to rejoin Togo target man Emmanuel Adebayor up front as the Gunners bid to overturn a 1-0 deficit at their Emirates stadium.

"He is available and he is in the squad," Wenger said. "He is one of those players who gives me an opportunity to make a (selection) decision, but we are very conscious that it is all about our team performance tomorrow."

Former United defender Mikael Silvestre was also included in Arsenal's squad but faces a late test on a groin problem.

"Everybody is very focused and we are ready for the game," the Frenchman said. "It is important to have everyone available and in the squad for this kind of game."

Wenger rested eight of those who played in the first leg for Saturday's 3-0 win at Portsmouth and said that decision had given him a refreshed group.

"I am confident that the team will produce a magnificent team performance and that we will manage it. We play at home and we have a strong record in the Champions League. I know that, for many, we are the outsiders, but personally I believe we will do it."

Arsenal are unbeaten at home in the Champions League in 24 matches stretching back to a defeat by Chelsea in April 2004.

United have not lost away in the competition in 11 outings since losing at Milan in May 2007.

Wenger said United were stronger and sharper in attack in the first leg, but said this was partly due to their longer preparation time. "This time will be different and I think it will be on our side," he said.

Asked how he rated his team's chances of winning, he added: "We will make it, no matter what happens. So, I am not interested in our chances. We have to make it and we are focussed on that. It is a game we have to go out and enjoy, to play the football we love and want to play so let's go out and do that and let (other) people talk while we do the job."

Follow the game with live text commentary right here on eurosport.yahoo.com from 19:45 UK time on Tuesday!

Reuters

Comment 88 - 107 of 107

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  1. come on you mite red,s come on you mite red,s­ ARSENAL,ARSENAL,ARSENAL . WE ALL FOLLOW THE ARSENAL­ ARSENAL F C.

    From s.coleman972, on Tue 5 May 6:58PM

  2. As a ARSENAL FAN let,s be fair both man u & arsenal­ are alway,s been the neighbours & have won more­ time,s in the past.but arsenal have fell back over the­ past 4 yr,s don,t rub it in. so it,s who dare win,s­ rodder,s know want I mean 2 v 0 to the ARSENAL come on­ let,s have some do it boy,s win. good luck.

    From s.coleman972, on Tue 5 May 6:53PM

  3. arsenal is the only team which can beat man u­ (loooosers) tonight that.s for sure that today arsenal­ will win and we will meet barca or chelsea in the final­ in rome .and when we reach in the final it,s for sure­ that arsenal will win .and hold the cl trophy ­ ( showbhit ) arsenal is the best team­ ever

    From shaury27, on Tue 5 May 4:16PM

  4. 87. post 76 thinks chelsea is in north london, the poor­ guy doesn't know the only other team in North­ London is *laugh* Tottenham, Chelsea is West london.­ Come on Arsenal, let the roar of the Gunner Nation be­ heard from inside and outside the stadium, let's­ make United Tremble. United Ended our streak at 49,­ we'll end their CL unbeaten run tonight. Come on,­ Arsenal!!!

    From Neo, on Tue 5 May 4:06PM

  5. I Will say 3-1

    From jsc486, on Tue 5 May 3:42PM

  6. i love him

    From jojo_frank, on Tue 5 May 1:04PM

  7. we arsenal have playing man.utd i believed the mistake­ we did that day will neva be done

    From fiasem, on Tue 5 May 1:01PM

  8. we arsenal have playing man.utd i believed the mistake­ we did that day will neva be done

    From fiasem, on Tue 5 May 1:01PM

  9. Манче­ стер­ Юните­ д­ бюлеж­ ик­ пошли­ вы в­ жёпу­ !!Арсе&#108­ 5;ал­ лучше­ коман­ да в­ мире­ и­ будет­ вас­ выгра­ ть­ сигод­ ня!­ суки!!!­ Арсен­ ал 3 - 0 МЮ­ хахах­ ахаха­ хах!!!Д&#10­ 72;вай­ Арсен­ ал!!!!!!!

    From sabas, on Tue 5 May 12:12PM

  10. Arsenal 3, Man U 1: aggregate 3-2
    GUNNERS GOT TO BE IN­ ROME MEN

    From MIKE, on Tue 5 May 12:01PM

  11. va Persie no van persie.. all this is utter rubbish.­ YOU LOSE TONIGHT.. YOU LOSE
    TONIGHT.. MAN UNITED, WE­ WIN... YOU SCORE ONE WE SCORE ONE.. YOU SCORE TWO WE­ SCORE
    TWO.. SEE? YOU LOSE TONIGHT.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Tue 5 May 11:53AM

  12. va Persie no van persie.. all this is utter rubbish.­ YOU LOSE TONIGHT.. YOU LOSE
    TONIGHT.. MAN UNITED, WE­ WIN... YOU SCORE ONE WE SCORE ONE.. YOU SCORE TWO WE­ SCORE
    TWO.. SEE? YOU LOSE TONIGHT.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Tue 5 May 11:53AM

  13. va Persie no van persie.. all this is utter rubbish.­ YOU LOSE TONIGHT.. YOU LOSE
    TONIGHT.. MAN UNITED, WE­ WIN... YOU SCORE ONE WE SCORE ONE.. YOU SCORE TWO WE­ SCORE
    TWO.. SEE? YOU LOSE TONIGHT.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Tue 5 May 11:52AM

  14. va Persie no van persie.. all this is utter rubbish.­ YOU LOSE TONIGHT.. YOU LOSE
    TONIGHT.. MAN UNITED, WE­ WIN... YOU SCORE ONE WE SCORE ONE.. YOU SCORE TWO WE­ SCORE
    TWO.. SEE? YOU LOSE TONIGHT.

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Tue 5 May 11:52AM

  15. a

    From ahnge.0723, on Tue 5 May 11:46AM

  16. they r gunner do it for london

    From kaki s, on Tue 5 May 10:44AM

  17. Believe me I hate Man U alot and I love EPL alot but am­ confused who can handle Barca if Chelsea fails­ morrow.Ofcourse the Mighty Reds would have handled­ Barca iff...Am sceptical if the Gooners can, so without­ mixing minds ManU can manage Barca.But now that am a­ Mighty Red fan and you know the implication I have for­ ManU and the love for EPL,so if Chelsea fails,ManU­ should try and if Chelsea wins,then I wish the Gooners­ wins tonite

    From Michael, on Tue 5 May 10:22AM

  18. its not always good to count chicks before 21 days. for­ the isue of man.u let them count for one chick they­ have hartched and they are on safe side.but I pittey­ arsenal fans who are just counting air. man u may­ handle that one chick up to rome on 27th who knows its­ only GOd. so arsenal fans stop underminig man u because­ they are capable of breaking records.God bless all of­ us as we spectate on these two giants to night.

    From Amuya, on Tue 5 May 10:18AM

  19. Post 79: United has better players on all­ positions??
    suffering from tunnel vision are we??

    From pieterse.mark, on Tue 5 May 8:12AM

  20. arsenal fans should atleast give some respect to man­ u,come on its man u we are talking about not­ villarreal,ok?man u is not little team that u people­ can just intimidate on paper ,can u imagine the lastime­ man u played against a premier league side without­ scoring a goal?one thing is for sure,its going to be a­ classic game with respect to both managers bcz i feel­ they are the best tactician that money can buy in world­ football for now,so lets keep our finger crossed bcz­ the truth is that arsenal fans need to be very much­ afraid bcz man u is known for breaking­ records..............may the better side­ win.........................................

    From Christiano Sean, on Tue 5 May 6:11AM
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