Everton boost as Robin van Persie ruled out for Arsenal

Dec 28 2007 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON have received a boost ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Arsenal after Arsene Wenger confirmed that Robin van Persie will not be fit for the game.

The Arsenal manager was hoping to welcome the Dutchman back after he suffered a setback in his recovery from a long-term knee injury.

Van Persie missed two months of this season before returning in Arsenal’s Champions League game with Steaua Bucharest two weeks ago and he also played as a late substitute in the 1-0 victory over Chelsea later that week.

After sustaining an injury, described by Wenger as “a little muscular problem, but a very minor one” that kept him out of Saturday’s north London derby, the striker was initially expected to make a rapid recovery.

But Wenger has conceded defeat in attempts to get van

Persie fit for the trip to an Everton side on a run of one defeat in 15 games.

Arsenal go into tomorrow’s 5.15pm kick-off already reeling from the injury that captain William Gallas sustained in the 0-0 draw at Portsmouth on Boxing Day also makes him a doubt. The defender received a kick to his foot as Arsenal failed to regain top spot from Manchester United, who went to the summit with their 4-0 win at Sunderland.

Meanwhile, Phil Neville has revealed his ambition to stand alongside the 1980s Everton greats in the club’s history books.

The Everton captain leads his side into the most potentially lucrative second half of a season at Goodison for years, with Everton still in three cup competitions and in contention for a top-four Premier League finish.

They are just two games away from a first Wembley final in 13 years with a two-legged Carling Cup semi-final with Chelsea to come in the New Year.

And Neville is hoping that will be the first step towards emulating the glory days of two decades ago, when Howard Kendall’s all-conquering side reached Wembley eight times in the space of just four seasons.

“My ambition is to be talked about as the Howard Kendall team is – like the Kevin Ratcliffes of this world – as great players,” said Neville, who collected 11 winners’ medals in his time at Manchester United.

“The top four is our ambition and hopefully to win a trophy.

“We are in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

“I have three years left on my contract and that is my ambition over the next few years – to lift a trophy for this club I love playing for.”