Arsène Wenger has warned Arsenal watchers not to "expect miracles" from Robin Van Persie when he makes his comeback. The Dutch forward has been sidelined since the middle of November after damaging ankle ligaments while on international duty but he is back at the training ground after completing his rehabilitation in Holland.
Wenger admits that Van Persie is in good shape and could reach "team fitness" in as little as two weeks. The manager will be tempted to call on the striker with key games coming thick and fast but he is well aware that Van Persie will need time to find his best form. "He is expected to return but don't expect miracles when a guy has been out for such a long time," said Wenger. "But we are happy to have him back and he is physically, fitness-wise, in a good shape. So we have just to get him back to full team fitness - that will take two to three weeks maximum. "I would say two weeks but after that when you start to play you are not at your best. You have to get a few games to get back to your best."
WHEN the going gets tough, the tough get... GROWING.
Or so it might appear to those transfixed by Arsenal's remarkable re-entry into the title race. The team that could have been tagged 'No Fight and the Seven Dwarfs' as they were thrashed and outmuscled by Manchester United and Chelsea not all that long ago are suddenly walking tall. Once, the opposition could not wait to get stuck into an Arsenal team featuring the likes of Sami Nasri, Denilson, Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin.
Now, though, the cavalry has arrived in the shape of Nicklas Bendtner (6ft 3in), Sol Campbell (6ft 2in) and Abou Diaby (6ft 1in). Throw in Alex Song (6ft 1in) and Manuel Almunia (6ft 2in) - and, when he's match fit, Robin van Persie (6ft) - and suddenly Arsenal have a physical presence.
It will come as a huge shock to those who have never rated Bendtner that Arsenal's revival has more or less coincided with his return to the side. At last, the team have a target-man who is not knee-high to an early-spring crocus. But it's the other guys as well. Players who don't have sand kicked in their face. Players less talented performers don't go out to intimidate and try to drag down to their level. Players who help their more vertically-challenged colleagues add an inch or two. These are the players Arsenal will bank on at Birmingham tomorrow when they revisit the scene of one of their most traumatic days of recent seasons.
On February 23, 2008, the Gunners travelled to St Andrew's top of the Premier League after winning eight and drawing two of their previous 10 games. They left with Eduardo having had his ankle snapped by Martin Taylor and skipper William Gallas looking a bit of a basket-case after a sit-in on the pitch at the end. To add insult to injury, Birmingham grabbed a 2-2 draw with an injury-time penalty. The psychological damage was such Arsenal won only one of their next eight games and finished third.
Now Birmingham may not be the side of mid-season when they strung together a run of 12 unbeaten games. They have won just three of their last 10 and have suffered successive defeats at Sunderland and Blackburn. But they will be very much up for this one - to show they can beat Arsenal by fair means as opposed to what some viewed as foul. As for Arsenal, tomorrow will be very much an exorcism - not just of the Eduardo injury but the belief that the seeds were sewn that day of them being a soft touch. Watching Inter Milan knock Chelsea out of the Champions League the other week, you were struck by one thing in particular. What a physically impressive team they are. But that's the way Jose Mourinho likes it. That's why he built Chelsea around men like Didier Drogba and Michael Essien. So they didn't get knocked about. This is why those who believe there is still one last crash left in Arsenal's season may get it wrong.
CESC FABREGAS will do everything he can to lead Arsenal in tonight's Champions League clash with Barcelona - despite fears over his injury. Boss Arsene Wenger will wait until the last minute before deciding whether Fab has recovered from bruising on his right leg and knee. But the Spanish star is desperate to face Barca and told a pal: "I'll do everything I can to play." In an exclusive Sun interview, Fabregas reveals just how much playing against the Catalans means to him.
Fabregas, 22, added: "Ever since the draw was made I've dreamt about this game and I am desperate to play in it. "I've never disguised my affection for Barcelona, it's where I was brought up and where I learned so many beautiful things about football. "But Arsenal have the same principles and this is our chance to show the world that we can stand shoulder to shoulder with Barcelona and emerge triumphant. You can't imagine how much I want to be part of that." Despite Fabregas' determination to play, Wenger was cautious yesterday. The Emirates boss said: "He didn't appear in training because at the moment he is not fit to play. We will give ourselves 24 hours more and assess the situation. "If Cesc is fit I will play him and the medical staff tell me there is still a chance he will be available. But that will be decided in the warm-up tomorrow night. That tells you how late we'll leave it. "If he is not capable to play I wouldn't even put him on the bench."
Fabregas revealed he thought it was a practical joke when he was first told Arsenal had been drawn against Barca. The Gunners skipper said: "I didn't watch the draw because we were out training. We were playing five against two when the travel manager at Arsenal came over and said it was Barcelona. "I thought he was kidding. But he said 'No, no, no - I'm serious!' "Straight away when I finished training I received texts from all my friends at Barca. It was a nice, a funny moment. "I grew up there and play with six of Barca's players in national team. "I have played with Andres Iniesta since the Under-21s and that's five years now.
"And Carles Puyol and Xavi have been team-mates since the last World Cup. "They are friends but once you get on the pitch it is strictly business." Wenger did have better news about centre-back William Gallas, who trained normally and could return for the first time since suffering a calf injury against Liverpool on February 10.
ARSENE WENGER reckons Cesc Fabregas would be a fool to quit Arsenal - because every player who leaves realises it was a mistake. Sandro Rosell, tipped to be the next Barcelona president, has made no secret of his plan to sign Gunners skipper Fabregas for £50million this summer. But Arsenal boss Wenger insisted it was not going to happen and cited Sol Campbell as a classic example of those who believed the grass was greener elsewhere. Campbell, 35, who rejoined Arsenal in January, plays against his old club Spurs in the North London derby tonight.
Wenger said: "All of the players who have left wanted to come back so they are not as unhappy as they sometimes look. "When Sol had achieved what he wanted to with us, he was a little bit in no man's land for a while. "But now he is mature and very clear in his head that he wants to go as far as he can. "I cannot stop talk about Fabregas but some try to be specialists in making players unhappy." Wenger welcomes back striker Robin van Persie after the Dutchman's five-month absence with ankle ligament damage. He added: "Robin had started to compete as one of the world's best players and then he was out. He is a leader and a winner."
Fabregas alikuwa Spanish benchwarmer......Van Persie alikuwa World Cup flop....Laurent Koscielny, Who??!!
Fabregas Vs Van Persie
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas enjoys helping ARSENAL to glory.
Hivi wachazaji wa Chelsick walikuwepo kwenye world cup? Hata Manure jamani mbona walijificha sana au migogoro mingi imezidi?
Fabregas Vs Van Persie
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas enjoys helping Fat Arse to glory.
Hivi wachazaji wa Chelsick walikuwepo kwenye world cup? Hata Manure jamani mbona walijificha sana au migogoro mingi imezidi?
Cesc
FABREGAS dedicated his World Cup winner's medal to Arsenal.
The Gunners skipper hit the killer pass for Andres Iniesta to net Spain's goal in the 1-0 final victory over Holland. He said: "This is for the Arsenal players, the Arsenal fans, the manager Arsene Wenger and all the staff. "I am really proud to have been an Arsenal player. "It is for all of them. They deserve it and they have a world champion at the club. "I am an Arsenal player and I am really proud to be able to give this trophy to all the fans."
Fabregas revealed boss Wenger texted him just after the final to congratulate him on Spain's historic achievement. He added: "I have had lots of texts and messages. My phone is full. "I had a text from Arsene Wenger. He said 'Congratulations, you deserve it'. "I replied 'Thank you very much' and told him this is for the whole of Arsenal Football Club, who have helped me get where I am today."
Cesc Fabregas was the subject of an embarrassing prank on Monday night as Spain celebrated their World Cup success, when he was forced to don a Barcelona shirt in front of 200,000 fans. With Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina acting as an unofficial master of ceremonies at the party in Madrid, Barca target Fabregas was ambushed by Barcelona defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique.
Put your shirt on it: Cesc Fabregas is forced to wear the Barcelona top
Reina shouted:
The future of Barcelona as his Spain team-mates pulled the famous blue-and-red striped shirt over an embarrassed Fabregas. The Arsenal skipper, who had earlier dedicated Spains 1-0 victory over Holland to his current club, quickly whipped off the jersey. But with his Arsenal future in serious doubt and new Barca president Sandro Rosell eager to bring Fabregas to the Nou Camp, the horseplay is unlikely to have gone down well in north London.
Prank: Pepe Reina forces Fabregas to don the famous red and white shirt
Fabregas had earlier dedicated the World Cup triumph to the Gunners but he may well have played his last game for the club. He said: 'This is for the Arsenal players, the Arsenal fans, the manager Arsene Wenger and all the staff. 'I am really proud to have been an Arsenal player. It is for all of them. They deserve it and they have a world champion at the club.
Basking in glory: Fabregas with Spain team-mate Xavi after Sunday's victory left,
right holding the World Cup
'I am an Arsenal player and I am really proud to be able to give this trophy to all the fans.' Fabregas also told how Arsenal manager Wenger sent him a text just after the win over Holland. He added: 'I have had lots of texts and messages. My phone is full. I had a text from Arsene Wenger. He said 'Congratulations, you deserve it'. 'I replied 'Thank you very much' and told him this is for the whole of Arsenal Football Club, who have helped me get where I am today.'