Van Persie to make Barca trip

Arsenal forward Robin van Persie is a shock inclusion in his side’s squad that will take on Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Van Persie injured ligaments in his knee in the club’s 2-1 Carling Cup defeat to Birmingham just eight days ago and quotes at the time from Arsene Wenger indicated he would miss at least three weeks.

“I am not a specialist but he overstretched his knee at the back when he made the volley (to score against Birmingham),” Wenger said after the Carling Cup final loss.

“It is a ligament at the back of the knee, a tear in the ligament. It is three to four weeks, I take the short delay because I am an optimist but it could be four.”

But Van Persie has made a remarkable recovery and – after being photographed in full training on Monday – has been included in Wenger’s squad for the second-leg of the Champions League last-16 tie.

Van Persie scored to bring Arsenal level in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium before they won 2-1 thanks to Andrey Arshavin’s late strike.

Arsenal squad: Manuel Almunia, Wojciech Szczesny, Johan Djourou, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue, Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Sebastien Squillaci, Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri, Abou Diaby, Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh, Robin van Persie.