Filed under: Arsenal, Euro 2012, Champions League, Premier League, Football
How Arsene Wenger must be looking forward to the day Robin van Persie announces his retirement from international football ...Once again the forward returned from duty with the Netherlands with an injury, having been hurt helping his nation to a 5-3 win over Hungary in the Amsterdam ArenA.
Having opened the scoring, the 27-year-old had to be substituted at half-time after being kicked on the knee in a late challenge by Vilmos Vanczak.
The Dutch camp was quick to make it clear they thought it was not serious and that he was still expected to turn out for the Gunners at home to Blackburn on Saturday evening.
"It didn't look very serious but it was too painful for him to carry on as he was hit by a knee just above his own knee," coach Bert Van Marwijk said. "But with luck he can play with Arsenal again this weekend."
However, Gunners fans have heard similar statements before only to realise soon afterwards that the player would not be wearing red and white for a while. Indeed, he missed the bulk of both the 2007-08 and 2009-10 seasons after being injured on international duty.
Arsenal's Premier League challenge enters a critical phase in the next few weeks with games with Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United on the horizon and they will be desperate to have the Dutchman available for all of them.
At least he has been able to make a quicker than anticipated return from a knee injury once before this term, appearing at the Nou Camp in the Champions League just hours after Wenger had confirmed his absence. Although of course that game with Barcelona hardly had a happy ending as van Persie was sent off for kicking the ball after the whistle had gone and a 2-1 aggregate lead quickly turned into a defeat.
Van Persie appears to be the only casualty from Arsenal's lengthy list of regular internationals, although plenty of tired legs are now doubt reporting back to the training ground at London Colney.
Jack Wilshere played twice for England, as did Samir Nasri for France and Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Andrei Arshavin, Tomas Rosicky, Nicklas Bendtner and Aaron Ramsey all turned out for their respective nations.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have also solved the mystery of the banana that suddenly arrived on the Emirates Stadium pitch during Brazil's 2-0 friendly win over Scotland.
Brazil striker Neymar claimed it was a racist attack - which the Tartan Army strongly denied, especially as it had come from a section of the stadium packed with samba supporters.
An Arsenal spokesman confirmed the Scots did indeed deserve to get off scot free. "After consultation with the Metropolitan Police, Arsenal Football Club can confirm that a German teenage tourist has admitted throwing a banana onto the pitch," he said.
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