Source: Telegraph
Robin van Persie surgery on right ankle 'went well', says Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Van Persie, 26, suffered the injury while on international duty with Holland and will be out for around five months, with Wenger relieved there were no complications with his operation. [LNB]Frenchman Wenger also had positive news about Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs, who has gone under the knife for his fractured foot. [LNB] Related ArticlesArsenal lose Theo Walcott for Stoke matchArsenal players too short, says Andrei ArshavinArsenal v Stoke City: match previewArsenal's Carling Cup kids emphasise lack of reserveWorld Cup 2010 draw: liveSenderos may quit Arsenal for World Cup dream"Kieran is doing very well," said Wenger. "I had him on the phone and it looked to be completely fine. [LNB]"I have not talked to Robin yet but there again the news I got from the surgery was it went very, very well. There was a lot of disturbance on our side recently [about his injury] but the surgery went well." [LNB]Van Persie's absence as a central striker cannot be filled against Stoke tomorrow by Theo Walcott as the England international has picked up a hamstring injury. [LNB]Walcott, 20, played the second half of the 3-0 Premier League defeat by Chelsea on Sunday, with Wenger then selecting his fringe players for the Carling Cup loss to Manchester City by the same scoreline. [LNB]The hamstring complaint is described by Arsenal as "short term", and Walcott will be desperate to return as soon as possible as he is yet to complete a match this season after shoulder and knee problems. [LNB]Wenger also has Alex Song suspended for the Stoke game at the Emirates Stadium but right-back Bacary Sagna has recovered from his ankle injury. [LNB]"We had Sagna out injured but, normally, he will be available," said Wenger. "However, Theo Walcott will not be available. He has a hamstring injury. [LNB]"As for the other players we had injured, the long-term ones I do not even speak about. But the players who looked to be shorter - like (Gael) Clichy, (Abou) Diaby and (Nicklas) Bendtner - will not be available. And, of course, Song is suspended for the weekend." [LNB]
