Wenger: Picking van Persie is a gamble but he's physically fit
Published 14:24 13/04/10 By John Cross
Robin van Persie is in the Arsenal squad for tomorrow's north London derby at Tottenham.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger confirmed van Persie will be involved, although it will be from the bench.
Wenger, who also confirmed Sol Campbell will start, said: 'He will feature. He's in the squad, yes, for tomorrow's game. It's a bit premature (for him to start) but we'll see. I haven't picked the team yet.
"When I pick a player it means he's fit and sharp. He's worked very hard. He lacks match practice, but physically he's fit."
Wenger admitted there was an element of risk in using van Persie who has not played since rupturing ankle ligaments in November.
The Arsenal manager has already seen William Gallas and Cesc Fabregas suffer setbacks recently after being rushed back injury.
But Wenger said: "There's always a gamble, I won't deny that, in such kind of decisions. But in Robin's case we have been a bit more cautious because he's been out so long.
"The biggest gamble I took was Gallas. Fabregas wasn't a massive gamble. But Gallas was coming back from a muscular problem. With Robin, it was a joint.
"He's a very important player for this club. He's very important for the confidence of our offensive power. He can give a final ball, score goals and is good on set-pieces. The sadness was that we lost him very early in the season. Nobody knows what difference he might have made, but I'd have loved to have had him for the whole season."
Former Spurs skipper Sol Campbell is also set to play against his former club and Wenger insisted he has complete faith in the 35-year-old.
Wenger added: "Sol has been a big, big support for me and for the squad. He's very important in the dressing room, highly focused and motivated. Every time he played he turned in a very good performance.
"It's one of the good signings I made. He will play tomorrow. I didn't imagine he'd be playing as many games as he has when I signed him. I thought he might have one or two games for us, and not as many as he has. But he's played well."
