Song out but Van Persie in squad

Posted Tuesday, March 08, 2011 by Supersport.com

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that midfielder Alex Song will miss Tuesday's Champions League trip to Barcelona but Robin van Persie has been added to the squad.

The Dutch forward was substituted during the Carling Cup final on February 27 after suffering a knee injury, but he trained with his team-mates on Monday and has travelled to Spain.

Wenger has named a 19-man squad but it does not include Song, who missed the goalless draw with Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday with a knee injury sustained in the final.

“Alex Song is completely out," said Wenger. "He had a test on Sunday morning and it was negative."
Song joins winger Theo Walcott and long-term absentee Thomas Vermaelen on the sidelines.

However, there is hope that captain Cesc Fabregas will be able to recover from a hamstring injury in time to face the club he left to join Arsenal as a 16-year-old while teenage playmaker Jack Wilshere has shaken off a knock and will play.

"Wilshere will be fit," Wenger told Sky. "Fabregas will have a final test today but he will travel.

"It’s vital for us because he’s (Fabregas) important in the transition between defending and attacking because he gets us out of pressure and can give a final ball as well.

"He’s the leader of the team so it’s important to have him in a big game like that."

Wilshere tweeted: "Afternoon everyone. Just to let you know I am not injured and if selected (I) will be fit to face Barca! Few kicks but nothing too bad!"

Arsenal take a 2-1 aggregate lead to Catalonia, but Wenger insisted that his team would not be aiming to sit on that slender lead - and are not equipped to do so even if they wanted to.

"We'll make some changes for Tuesday, that's for sure. We need some fresh legs for the Nou Camp because we'll have to run a lot there," said Wenger.

"We've not got enough security just to sit back and defend; you can't go to Barcelona and play for a 0-0.
Anyway, it's not the personality of my team. This game has been hanging a bit over the heads of my players but our focus is on it now."