Arsenal's Robin Van Persie Fit To Play Against Barcelona

Arsenal FC Player Robin Van Persie has surprised the Arsenal Fans that the Striker will be able to play in the Champions League to face Barcelona after having seen practicing on Monday. The Barcelona vs  Arsenal Champions League Games will be the last 16 teams to qualify.

Robin Van Persie was not on the official line up to face Barcelona at CampNou when he experienced an injured knee after scoring against Birmingham last February.

Arsenal news website has shown pictures on Robin Van Persie joining the practice without a hint of injury, a probable anticipation that he will be included in Arsene Wenger's first eleven to face Barcelona together with their newly returning team Captain Cesc Fabregas.

Van Persie returned to Netherland for the knee surgery that kept him from playing against Sunderland on the Premier League. 

Arsene Wenger was not expecting to field in Van Persie until the end of March. In an interview with Arsene Wenger after the Carling Cup final last February 27, he said, "I am not a specialist.  But he overstretched his knee at the back when he made the volley [to score against Birmingham]. 

He got kicked or blocked by the defender and overstretched when he hit the ball. In fact he lost Van Persie after 30 minutes, he tried to keep going in the second half but he was injured.

"It is a ligament at the back of the knee, a tear in the ligament. It is three to four weeks, I take the short delay because I am an optimist but it could be four. As well it is the international break during that period so whether it is three or four [weeks], for us it is the same."

Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal will lead the Battle against Barcelona

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeArsenal fans can make sure that Cesc Fabregas will be ready for their title race on the Champions League bout against Barcelona. We still don’t have an idea if Alex Song can play for this important game.

Team Captain Cesc Fabregas looks assured and prepared to face Barcelona on their last 16 2nd leg Champions League Tie on Tuesday Night but their defense might give them a problem because Alex Song might not be there to guard Messi and Barcelona.

Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal will face his World Cup Champions team such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets of Barcelona.

Without Song the Arsenal defense will be weak. He was injured in Last week Carling Cup and Arsenal lost to Birmingham City.

"At the moment it does not look like Alex will be fit," Wenger. "He's not been on the field at all since Wembley."

Song has just missed four Premier League games for the Arsenal this season but Arsenal Jack Wilshere, who is now fit to play, believes the return of Fabregas is a huge boost to Gunners winning against Barcelona. Jack Wilshere's presence will make the chances of Arsenal very competitive.

Jack Wilshere said: “It will be massive to have Cesc back – he is our captain, our leader, and probably our best player. We know we can win there.”

Wilshere shone in his side’s 2-1 first-leg victory and believes that Arsenal can reach the last eight of the Champions League.

"We now know we can beat Barcelona with all their superstars, as we did at the Emirates," added Wilshere.

"We showed in the first game that we have the character to come back from a goal down against the best team in the world and we are going there with a massive amount of confidence.

"We know we will have to defend well and hit them on the counter-attack but, if we get a goal, they will have to come at us.

“Hopefully we will get what we need. Beat them and we'll have a good chance of winning the tournament.”

Arsene Wenger will also avail of the services of Bacary Sagna coming from suspension for the away tie and is expected to give Marouane Chamakh the nod ahead of Nicklas Bendtner since Robin van Persie cannot play.

Arsenal will still qualify with a stalemate in Barcelona as a result of their first-leg victory, but Wenger is going for the win, not a draw.

"We've not got enough security just to sit back and defend, you can't go to Barcelona and play for a 0-0,” said Wenger.

“Anyway, it's not the personality of my team. This game has been hanging a bit over the heads of my players but our focus is on it now."

Arsenal will Play Offensive Football Against Barcelona

Image via Wikipedia"Arsenal will not back down and defend their one goal advantage but will be attacking us and keep attacking us because that's how they are as an offensive minded team," says Dani Alves of Barca.
Barcelona Player Dani Alves believes that Arsenal will be more offensive than usual as they are waiting for their enemies to attack and Arsenal are not known to be versatile in their style of play. They will not settle down and be contented of their one goal advantage in the Champions League.
Barcelona will be facing the Arsenal on Tuesday night for their fight to position on the last 16 teams to qualify. The Blaugrana-the style of play of Barcelona is important that it will work to be included in the last 16 teams to qualify in the Champions League. Cesc Fabregas will be leading the Arsenal Team against Barcelona. The Arsenal team will surely miss the defense of Alex Song after an injury last week at Carling Cup where Arsenal unfortunately lost to Birmingham City.
Arsenal Coach Arsene Wenger will also use the brilliance of Bacary Sagna from a suspension and of Jack Wilshere coming from an injury for the win. He is expected to give Marouane Chamakh the nod ahead of Nicklas Bendtner since Robin van Persie will not be available.

"It will be the same Arsenal as ever - an attacking team," Alves told PA Sport. "That's the way they play and I don't think they know any other way.
"I don't think Arsenal know how to play like Zaragoza did [playing defensively]. But as Zaragoza carried on attacking, not once did we sit back.
"We will look to play as we always do, enjoying our football and without changing the way we are, but we must make sure we have learned from the experience of last year against Inter," concluded the Barcelona defender Dani Alves.