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Arsene Wenger promises to field strong Arsenal side against Leeds United in the FA Cup but Robin van Persie will be rested
Gunners boss confirms Dutchman will be given time to recover, but other first team regulars will be used as he looks to avoid an upset, although Gervinho will likely be absent
Jan 6, 2012 7:21:00 AM
By Matt Scott
Getty Images
Arsene Wenger has vowed to select a strong side as Arsenal take on Leeds United in the FA Cup this weekend.
Wenger has used cup competitions in the past to blood youngsters, often making wholesale changes for games, especially those against lower-league opposition, but insists this will be no such occasion.
“[I will play] a strong side, a normal side," he told Arsenal's official website. “Maybe one or two will be rested, but apart from that I think we will still have Marouane Chamakh."
“Robin van Persie will certainly be rested for this game. We will hopefully have Chamakh available, Park [Chu-Young] available.
“Gervinho will maybe miss the game because they [the Ivory Coast players] have to turn up 14 days before the [Africa Cup of Nations] tournament starts."
The Gunners' defensive woes are set to continue ahead of the clash with Simon Grayson's side, as Johan Djourou will be suspended after his red card at Fulham and Thomas Vermaelen is missing through injury, meaning Wenger will again have to improvise.
"From Monday night we have Djourou who will be suspended of course. Vermaelen will not be back and that creates quite a limitation at the back because it means no defender will come back," he explained.
"I think he [Djourou] could have played [if he wasn't suspended]. He has still not recovered completely from his groin injury but for Monday he should have been OK."
He added, "[Bacary] Sagna and [Jack] Wilshere are going well of course but it is too early for them. [Kieran] Gibbs is doing well but none of them are ready for the next few weeks at least. We have to cope at the moment with the situation we face as well as we can."
Wenger has used cup competitions in the past to blood youngsters, often making wholesale changes for games, especially those against lower-league opposition, but insists this will be no such occasion.
“[I will play] a strong side, a normal side," he told Arsenal's official website. “Maybe one or two will be rested, but apart from that I think we will still have Marouane Chamakh."
“Robin van Persie will certainly be rested for this game. We will hopefully have Chamakh available, Park [Chu-Young] available.
“Gervinho will maybe miss the game because they [the Ivory Coast players] have to turn up 14 days before the [Africa Cup of Nations] tournament starts."
The Gunners' defensive woes are set to continue ahead of the clash with Simon Grayson's side, as Johan Djourou will be suspended after his red card at Fulham and Thomas Vermaelen is missing through injury, meaning Wenger will again have to improvise.
"From Monday night we have Djourou who will be suspended of course. Vermaelen will not be back and that creates quite a limitation at the back because it means no defender will come back," he explained.
"I think he [Djourou] could have played [if he wasn't suspended]. He has still not recovered completely from his groin injury but for Monday he should have been OK."
He added, "[Bacary] Sagna and [Jack] Wilshere are going well of course but it is too early for them. [Kieran] Gibbs is doing well but none of them are ready for the next few weeks at least. We have to cope at the moment with the situation we face as well as we can."
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