Placenta forward: Van Persie tries bizarre injury treatment
ARSENAL forward Robin van Persie is pinning his hopes of a quick recovery from injury on an unusual treatment – involving a placenta.
Van Persie will have fluid from a placenta rubbed on his ankle, following a recommendation from PSV Eindhoven midfielder Danko Lazovic.
The Holland international, who has been in irresistible form for the Gunners, tore ligaments during Saturday’s friendly against Italy.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects to be without Van Persie for six weeks, and the 26-year-old admits he is willing to try the unorthodox treatment in a bid to return more quickly.
“I will fly to the Balkans to meet with a female doctor who helped Danko Lazovic,” he explained. “She is vague about her methods but I know she massages you using fluid from a placenta.
“I am going to try. It cannot hurt and, if it helps, it helps. I have been in contact with Arsenal physiotherapists and they have let me do it.”
Van Persie, who has been troubled by a litany of injuries during his five years in north London, admitted he was lucky to avoid breaking his ankle in the challenge from Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.
“A scan showed that my ankle ligament was almost completely torn off where Chiellini caught me but it was not intentional,” he added. “I was lucky, it could be worse.”
The former Feyenoord player has revelled in his role as the attacking spearhead of Wenger’s revamped 4-3-3 formation. He has netted eight times already this season, with all of the goals coming in his last 11 games.
Croatia forward Eduardo is likely to take Van Persie’s place for a run of games that includes the visit of Premier League leaders Chelsea in 12 days’ time, and the trip to Liverpool next month.