Arsène Wenger does not blame Giorgio Chiellini for the injury which has sidelined Robin Van Persie for six weeks.

The Dutch forward damaged ankle ligaments after landing badly following a challenge by the Italian defender in last weekend's international friendly in Pescara.

Van Persie was shaping to shoot when Chiellini executed a well-timed tackle inside the penalty area and Wenger refused to point the finger at the Juventus man when the topic cropped up at his pre-match press conference.

"It did not look like a violent tackle to me," said Wenger. "It was an accidental ankle injury."