Injured Van Persie hopes to be back in action this season

Dubai : Robin Van Persie, the Dutch star of Arsenal, refused to put a date on his comeback from a serious ankle injury sustained last November.

"It's been the last two days that I have started jogging, but it's still early to say as to when exactly I can be back on the pitch," he said.

Speaking yesterday during a visit to the Arsenal Soccer School located at The Sevens, the sports facility of Emirates airline, Van Persie did not hide his disappointment in not being able to take part in the Gunners' recent purple patch in the Premiership.

"There is nothing I can do about it. At this point, I can say that my recovery is right on schedule but the injury has been quite bad. I would, however, like to be part of the team's campaign in the later stages of the league or if we are still there in Champions League," said Van Persie, whose soft-spoken demeanour belies the power that he packs behind those bullet shots.

Written off

After being written off in the initial months of the campaign, Arsenal have clawed their way back into the Premiership title race with a series of stunning results and face leaders Chelsea in a must-win match today.

Asked if the team's resurgence vindicates coach Arsene Wenger's policy of youth, one of his trusted lieutenants couldn't agree more.

"It's not only about youth, he [Wenger] is a lover of football. He goes around picking up footballers from England as well as abroad who he feels can play the game our way. He believed in us," he observed.

Emirates, sponsors of Arsenal since 2004, flew him into the city on Tuesday as a prelude to a major announcement — the company is starting daily flights from Amsterdam to Dubai from May 1.

Terry Controversy

Robin Van Persie was in no mood to get involved in the controversy surrounding John Terry, the deposed England captain and Chelsea star. Replying to a Gulf News query, he said: "Its's not my situation, nor do I play in the same team as him."

When asked if he was sympathetic to Terry, being a subject of media intrusions himself in the past, the Dutchman offered: "I agree but I don't know what happened in this case. I would not like to comment on this."