• Premier League

Wenger fears van Persie & Cesc may miss start of season

ESPN staff
July 28, 2010
Robin van Persie may miss the start of the season © Getty Images
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that he fears key players Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas may miss the start of the season after their World Cup exertions.

Both players featured in the final of the tournament - in which Spain defeated Netherlands 1-0 - after playing a full part in their nations' progress to the climax of the competition.

Now Wenger is concerned that they will not have had enough time to recuperate from their exertions by the time the Premier League season rolls around in August.

Quite apart from concerns over Fabregas' fitness, Wenger's mind will also be occupied by the Gunners' concerted efforts to repel Barcelona's attempts to prise the player away from London.

"Fabregas and Van Persie are due to come back on August 5 and from then on we will see how much build-up work is needed physically and as well how they have recovered mentally from the World Cup," Wenger said.

One player who will certainly be missing the early stages of the season is Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, who is continuing to suffer the effects of a long-standing groin complaint.

The 22-year-old cut short his post-World Cup holiday in order to undergo treatment from the Gunners' medical staff, but their efforts have not been enough to salvage his chances of lining up against Liverpool in the Premier League opener on August 15. "Bendtner will not be available for the start of the season," Wenger revealed.

There is some cheering injury news for the Gunners - Denilson and Abou Diaby are both expected to be fit for the final pre-season match on August 7, while the injury Johan Djourou sustained in the 4-0 win over SC Neusiedl 1919 on Tuesday evening is not thought to be serious.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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