Van Persie to undergo radical treatment

Robin van Persie intends to do all he can to get back into action for Arsenal as soon as possible - and will travel to Serbia for radical medical treatment that involves massage using fluid from a placenta.

The Holland forward - who has scored eight goals in 15 games in all competitions this season and emerged as one of the Gunners' key figures - has been ruled out for at least six weeks with partially-torn ankle ligaments following a heavy challenge from Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during Saturday's friendly in Pescara.

Arsenal confirmed van Persie, 26, will return to London later this week to continue his rehabilitation and are happy with the care of the Dutch Football Association.

Van Persie, though, is ready to go a step further to try to help the healing process.

Speaking to Dutch television programme Studio Voetbal, the Arsenal striker revealed: "I will fly to the Balkans to meet with a female doctor who helped [PSV Eindhoven midfielder] Danko Lazovic.

"She is vague about her methods but I know she massages you using fluid from a placenta.

"I am going to try. It cannot hurt and, if it helps, it helps.

"I have been in contact with Arsenal physiotherapists and they have let me do it."

Van Persie accepted his injury could have been much worse.

The Dutchman added: "A scan showed that my ankle ligament was almost completely torn off where Chiellini caught me but it was not intentional.

"I was lucky, it could be worse."

Despite the prognosis now not being as bad as first thought, the loss of the Holland forward could not have come at a worse time for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who is already without Nicklas Bendtner until early December because of a groin problem.

While there is an outside chance England forward Theo Walcott could be in contention for the visit of Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea on November 29 after a knee injury, Eduardo is the most likely to be deployed as the central striker of what had been a free-scoring, fluid 4-3-3 system at Sunderland this weekend.

The Brazilian-born forward - who has battled back after spending almost a year on the sidelines with a broken ankle - scored twice in Croatia's 5-0 friendly win over Liechtenstein.

Eduardo replaced Bendtner in the 3-0 win over Tottenham and missed a couple of good chances to chalk up a first strike since mid-September.

The Croatian, though, would be entitled to feel somewhat aggrieved not to have been credited with Arsenal's second goal at Wolves, when his chip was deflected in off defender Jody Craddock, and he remains confident the rewards of continued hard work will come.

"Against Tottenham I missed one big chance in particular, when I was one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Maybe I had too much time to think about what I had to do," the 26-year-old said.

"Sometimes it is better when you have less time to think and can act instinctively.

"But I will not worry about that chance, I feel strong in my head and my body.

"It is good that I was in the position to have the chance because, if you keep doing that, then the goals will come."

Even if all goes well with van Persie's recovery, Wenger must count without the skilful Dutchman until probably after Christmas, with FA Cup third-round weekend on January 2/3 a more realistic comeback date.

As well as the visit of Chelsea - who Arsenal trail by five points but with a match in hand - van Persie will also be unavailable for the Carling Cup quarter-final clash against Manchester City, the potential Champions League Group H decider at Olympiacos as well as the trip to Liverpool and most likely the Boxing Day date against Aston Villa.

A statement from Arsenal read: "Following the care given to van Persie by the Dutch FA, he will travel back to London this week and continue his treatment with the Arsenal medical team at London Colney.

"Van Persie will be out of action for approximately six weeks."

Brazilian midfielder Denilson, who has been sidelined since mid-September by a back problem, is expected to be available after the international break but defender Gael Clichy, who is recovering from a similar problem, needs more recovery time.

Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby - who had been troubled by a calf injury - has, meanwhile, pulled out of the second leg of France's World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland.