Van Persie to miss Villarreal trip

Robin van Persie has been ruled out of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Villarreal, a statement on the London club’s website said here Monday.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger had given the Dutch striker a “fifty-fifty” chance of playing in Tuesday’s match in Spain but van Persie won’t be a member of the 18-man squad after failing to recover in time from a groin injury.

However, wingers Theo Walcott (knee) and Samir Nasri (‘flu) have both been given the all-clear.

But Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky (both groin) and Abou Diaby (thigh) are unavailable for Tuesday’s match.