Gunners receive timely boost

London - There was encouraging news for Arsenal fans on Monday when manager Arsene Wenger included Robin van Persie in the squad to face Barcelona and said Cesc Fabregas was "90 percent likely" to play in Tuesday's Nou Camp game.

Arsenal take a 2-1 lead into the second leg of the knockout round tie and Dutch striker Van Persie was expected to miss the game with a knee injury sustained in last week's League Cup final that Wenger said would rule him out for at least three weeks.

However, Van Persie trained on Monday and was included in a 19-man squad, which will be trimmed to 18 before the match.

Fabregas has been fighting to overcome a hamstring injury but Wenger said he expected his captain to recover.

"Fabregas will have a final test today, it is 90 percent he will travel and be fit," Wenger told the club's website (www.arsenal.com).

"It is vital for us because he is important in the transition between attacking and defending. He is also the leader of the team so we want him there."

Fabregas and Van Persie missed the Nou Camp second leg of the team's quarter-final last season when the Spaniards triumphed 4-1 to go through 6-3 on aggregate.

Wenger said that fellow midfielder Jack Wilshere, who turned an ankle in Saturday's goalless draw with Sunderland, would be fit to play but Alex Song had been ruled out with a knee injury.

Winger Theo Walcott will also miss the game with an ankle injury.

"Everybody else who played on Saturday should be available," said Wenger.