I was bemused when I read the news that Robin van Persie has been called up to the Dutch national squad. I'm not even sure he is in full training yet and can't see the reason for this inclusion.

It seems Holland manager Bert van Marwijk has done a Jekyll and Hyde act here. I really liked the fact that De Jong has not been called up, in some ways it's an extension of the ban voluntarily imposed on him by his national manager.

One who is in the mood

Once again the international games are over for now at least. Injuries are one of many thing that us supporters of football clubs worry about whenever our players go away with their respective national squads. Another is the morale of these players where a good win or a bad loss could set the tone for their performance at the weekend.

By Chris Wright

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has, in so many words, admitted that he has been left in a bewildered state of baffling perplexity by Holland coach Bert van Marwijk's decision to call up Robin Van Persie for their friendly with Turkey on November 17th, despite the striker having not yet returned to full training after injuring his ankle back in September.

Arsene Wenger has not been happy with the Holland boss Bert Van Marwijk since Robin Van Persie was seriously injured playing a "meaningless international" against Italy a year ago. The Arsenal boss threatened to sue the Dutch FA for compensation but there was nothing he could do about it legally. Since then, Van Persie has [.

Just call him Butch Bert Oooh, look at that Butch coach. Arsene Wenger doesn't stand a chance!

"Has there been any contact with the medical staff of Holland and Arsenal? I don't know. I don't care, because I spoke to Robin personally and I just made the selection and will wait for any comments to come."These are the words of the immense penis who goes by the name of Bert van Majwijk. I am not quite sure why the man is such a bell end, but his comments show him up to be an absolute

A couple of things today:

First off, our little Peacemaker has been talking about who he wants to emulate. He has said his role model is Liam Brady, Arsenal's playmaking midfielder from the late 1970s who now heads up Arsenal's youth development program. Brady is justifiably regarded as a club legend, so it's a savvy choice, showing a good sense of the club's history and traditions.

In these hands you should trust

Holland and Russia are two very contrasting nations but they now, they have something in common other than the fact that they played each other at the last European Championship. Now, the coach of the national football teams have a common enemy. That enemy is none other than Arsene Wenger.

Manchester City's midfield hatchet man, Nigel De Jong, has been once again been omitted from the Netherlands team by manager, Bert Van Marwijk for their game against Turkey on 17th November. Van Marwijk's refusal to select the player could possibly for his complete lack of contrition over his assault on Newcastle United's Hatem Ben Arfa, [.

Arsenal and Netherlands could be destined for a club versus country row after injured forward Robin van Persie was included in the country's squad for a friendly against Turkey on November 17.
Van Persie is currently recovering from an ankle injury and has not appeared for Arsenal since sustaining the problem in a Premier League game against Blackburn Rovers in August.

The Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was astounded that Bert Van Marwijk had named Robin Van Persie in the Holland squad to face Turkey when the Flying Dutchman hadn't played a competitive game for the Gunners for over two months. Wenger described the announcement as "surreal" and a war of words developed between himself and the [.

::: FistedAway today welcomes a guest post from Elliott, editor of the rather lovely Futfanatico :::

Not since the Frankenstein-themed tale of Michael Owen Hargreaves has such a sad injury story buzzed to our attention. But during this last World Cup, we noticed two very odd occurrences.