Robin van Persie

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Saturday, February 04, 2012 8:00 AM (ET)

Wenger - I’m considering resting Van Persie

By Rob Kelly

Arsène Wenger is considering how best to utilise his striking options ahead of Saturday’s match against Blackburn - and that could mean a rest for Robin van Persie.

The captain has started 11 of Arsenal’s past 12 matches - scoring seven goals - but his manager admits he is “tempted” to rotate for the match at Emirates Stadium.

“I will rotate a little bit because many players have given a lot,” said Wenger. “[With Van Persie] the temptation is there.

“We are in a situation at the moment where he is the main goalscorer, so I will maybe have to build a team that works around him.”

Wenger will not field Marouane Chamakh against Blackburn after the striker returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, but he could use Theo Walcott up front if Van Persie is rested.

“We have [Ju Young] Park, Thierry Henry, we have Walcott who wants to play through the middle - he has not done it,” he said.

“We have not done it but we always have adapted. Thierry Henry at the start was not a centre forward, Robin van Persie was not a centre forward, so we’ll see what we do if it happens.

“But Chamakh is back. No [he is not ready to play]. He should be in today because they have 48 hours to be back after the competition, but I will not use him tomorrow.”

[Friday, February 03, 2012]

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