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Robin Van Persie sat out the last part of Holland's training session with a groin injury. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA
Robin van Persie has given Arsenal a scare in their challenge to secure Champions League football after being forced to sit out the last section of Holland's training session at Wembley before Wednesday night's friendly with England after feeling pain in his groin.
The Dutch striker has become pivotal to the club's hopes of success this season after he scored 33 goals in all competitions in what has so far been his first injury-free campaign since joining Arsenal in 2004.
Following Arsenal's 5-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates on Sunday in the north London derby the club was aware that the forward had a "very mild injury" in his groin when he joined up with Bert van Marwijk's squad. The KNVB, the Dutch Football Association, claimed that it was agreed the forward would cease training if he felt any discomfort which he duly did when a game took place after taking part in a full warm-up.
Van Persie is said to have felt a pain in his hip and so retired from the session as a "precaution". However his participation against England must now be in doubt. Van Marwijk would risk a major fall-out with the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, should the coach start the 28-year-old only for him to break down during the course of the match.
Van Marwijk, though, is considering picking Van Persie in his XI. "I am optimistic that he will play. We will have to wait and see but I don't think it's too serious."
During the international window in November Wenger successfully recalled Van Persie before the striker was due to play in the friendly with Germany after he played in a 0-0 draw against Switzerland. But the 59-year-old Dutch manager, when asked if there had been any conversation between Wenger and him about proceeding with caution when deciding on Van Persie's involvement against England said: "No."
Given his importance to the Arsenal cause and Van Marwijk's willingness then to pull him out of the Germany match in November the situation may change. Then the coach said: "Arsène asked me if I could please not play Robin in both games. I had a good talk with Wenger and we decided that Robin would play only on Friday. After that we would send him back to London. I won't use Robin against the Germans."
Arsenal travel to Anfield on Saturday for the early-kick off to play Liverpool, one of their rivals for a top-four finish. With Wenger's team currently in fourth, victory for Kenny Dalglish's side would draw them to within four points of Arsenal, so the manager would be loth to see him risked against England. The Holland captain, Mark van Bommel, suffered a knee injury in the same training session as Van Persie and is also a doubt.
