Arsene Wenger has told the Arsenal website that he will be deprived of the services of striker Robin Van Persie. The forward suffered the most fashionable of injuries, a broken metatarsal as he scored Arsenal’s equaliser against Manchester United on Sunday. The injury is similar to that suffered by Wayne Rooney before the World Cup last year.

It will be a huge blow for Wenger and his team as they play North London Rivals Tottenham in the Carling Cup semi-final and resume their Champions League activity while Van Persie recovers. Van Persie has been an integral part of Arsenal’s season scoring some sensational goals, his absence could be detrimental to Arsenal’s campaign to secure Champions League football next season.