Arsenal Boosted by Van Persie Addition

Arsenal have been boosted by the return to fitness of Robin van Persie ahead of their Champions League clash with Barcelona at the Nou Camp this Tuesday evening.

The Dutch striker was expected to be out for a number of weeks but was today named in Arsene Wenger’s squad to face the Spanish champions. Offering a further boost to the news that captain Cesc Fabregas was “90% likely” to be fit.

Jack Wilshere also declared himself fit via Twitter earlier in the week but Alex Song and Theo Walcott are both definitely out.

The Gunners hold a 2-1 advantage in the tie after goals from van Persie and Andrei Arshavin saw them come from behind to win at the Emirates two weeks ago.

Barcelona have lost just once in La Liga at the Nou Camp all season and currently have a seven point cushion atop of the Spanish football pyramid. Despite the one goal deficit they are still strong betting favourites to progress to the quarter finals of the Champions League with most bookmakers offering odds of 4/11.

It is 2/7 that the Catalan giants win the match in 90 minutes, with the draw priced at 5/1 and a win for the English club at 8/1.

David Villa opened the scoring in north London a fortnight ago and can be backed at 9/2 to do so again this week. Lionel Messi, who scored four at the Nou Camp when the two teams met in last season’s competition, is 9/4 to get the first goal of the game.

Van Persie, who may only be introduced from the bench, is 10/1 in the same market with midfielder Cesc Fabregas at 16/1 to break the deadlock against his boyhood heroes.

It has been a mixed week for the Gunners, which began with defeat in the Carling Cup final but ended with them having notably closed the gap at the top of the Premier League. They’ll be looking to take the positives of the past seven days to what is generally regarded as one of the toughest stadiums in world football to get a result.