'I am optimistic that he will play. We will have to wait and but I don't think it's too serious,' said Van Marwijk.

The Holland manager knows he will be risking Wenger's wrath by taking any sort of fitness risk with his talismanic striker.

Wenger is already an outspoken critic of the number of FIFA's international calendar, particularly with regards to the number of friendly matches.

The Gunners manager has already had a number of run-ins with the Dutch FA over their use of Van Persie.

Speaking in 2010, former Holland manager Dick Advocaat said: ‘He is always moaning about something.

'Mr Wenger wants to become the champion of England; I want my team to qualify from the Euro 2012 group. We need to respect the interests of each other.’

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