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Ligament damage sidelines Arsenal star Persie
Last Updated : 2009-11-16 3:33 PM
AFP
Netherlands' forward Robin van Persie is treated by medics after a tackle during a FIFA World Cup 2010 friendly match against Italy at Adriatico stadium in Pescara on November 14.
AFP
LONDON: Arsenal's Premier League title hopes suffered a setback on Sunday after star striker Robin van Persie damaged ankle ligaments during the Netherlands' 0-0 friendly draw with Italy.
The 26-year-old was stretched off the pitch after being tackled by Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini 14 minutes into Saturday's game at Pescara and now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
"Van Persie has a partially ruptured ligament," a Dutch Football Association (KNVB) official told the BBC on Sunday.
"It's a serious injury. We don't know how long it will take him to recover from it.
"It's impossible to put an exact time-frame on it because some players heal more quickly than others. It's not a short-term injury."
Earlier, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said he believed the player had torn ligaments.
"It's a hard blow for him because he was in the form of his life," said van Marwijk.