Arsene Wenger is now resigned to
Robin van Persie missing Arsenal's closing nine games of the
season.
Van Persie has not played for The Gunners since scoring the winning
goal against Manchester United in January after breaking a bone in
his foot in the game.
Arsenal boss Wenger had been hopeful that the Holland international
would be able to return to the team at the end of April.
But it now seems likely that Van Persie will sit out the remainder
of the campaign as Wenger is wary about risking the forward's
fitness.
"The end of April now looks optimistic," Wenger told the club's
official website.
"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."
Van Persie's continued absence compounds Arsenal's problems in
attack, with Thierry Henry and Theo Walcott also out for the
season.