Robin van Persie has been ruled out of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Villarreal, the club has confirmed.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger had given the Dutch striker a “fifty-fifty” chance of playing in Tuesday’s match in Spain but van Persie won’t travel after failing to recover in time from a groin injury.

However, better news for Wenger comes with the confirmation that wingers Theo Walcott (knee) and Samir Nasri (‘flu) have both been given the all-clear to make the trip to Spain.

But Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky (both groin) and Abou Diaby (thigh) are unavailable for Tuesday’s match.

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