Wenger not gambling on RvP May 02 2008
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will rest Robin van Persie for Sunday's Premier League clash with Everton as a precautionary measure.
The injury-prone Dutch striker was substituted at half-time of Monday's 6-2 drubbing of Derby after sustaining a slight thigh problem.
Van Persie has been afflicted by the same injury already this season and Wenger decided he would benefit from sitting out the penultimate match of the campaign.
"Van Persie is out as a precaution. We don't want to gamble at this stage on a muscular problem," Wenger told Arsenal TV.
The Frenchman added: "We had a little alert with Robin but it's not big at all."
Mathieu Flamini could be included among the substitutes after recovering from the ankle injury sustained in last month's 4-2 UEFA Champions League quarter-final defeat by Liverpool.
"Maybe Mathieu will be on the bench but I don't know yet. He might join in during training today," said Wenger.
An update on Flamini's future is expected on Friday with the French midfielder yet to decide on whether he will stay at the Emirates Stadium next season.