Van Persie has been sidelined since breaking the fifth metatarsal in his right foot while celebrating scoring against United at the Emirates Stadium and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed he does not expect the Dutch star back this season.

It had been thought van Persie might be fit for the final matches of the season but, with Arsenal having only a top-four finish in the Premiership to play for, he won't be rushed back.

"The end of April now looks optimistic," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online on Thursday. "It is likely he will be out for the season.

"We have spoken to the doctors and they told us that the longer you keep this kind of fracture without playing the less chance you have of a recurrence. So if he can play only one or two games then we will not take a gamble."