Van Persie fit for United showdown

Robin van Persie has handed Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger a fitness boost ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final clash against Manchester United.

Van Persie returned to training on Monday after missing Arsenal’s last four matches with a groin injury suffered during his club’s FA Cup semi-final defeat against Chelsea in April.

The Dutch international is expected to partner Emmanuel Adebayor in Wenger’s forward line as the Gunners try to overturn the 1-0 deficit from the first leg at Old Trafford.

“Robin van Persie is available and back in squad,” Wenger said at his pre-match press conference on Monday. “You want everybody in a game like that to be available. He gives me an opportunity to make a decision about our selection.”

With van Persie back, Wenger’s only other fitness issue concerns French defender Mikael Silvestre, who is struggling with a groin injury.

Silvestre is in the squad but Wenger admitted he will have to wait until the last minute to decide if the former United star can feature at the Emirates Stadium.

“Mikael Silvestre is in squad as well but he still has a little groin problem. We will assess that on Tuesday.”