The 24-year-old started the campaign in fine form before then suffering a knee problem while on international duty during October.

After finally getting back into action in mid-December, a muscular injury then put him out again until the new year.

Van Persie's jinx then struck again on his return for the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against Tottenham, when he was taken off at half-time, as he was laid low by a virus.

Manager Arsene Wenger shares the frustrations of one of his key men, who has netted seven goals in 13 starts.

It had been hoped the latest problem, understood to be a thigh injury, would prove to be minor.

But Wenger now expects to be without the forward "for a few weeks".

On the plus side ahead of tomorrow's Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham, winger Tomas Rosicky should return after the Czech midfielder missed the Birmingham game because of a virus.

However, centre-half Johan Djourou will not feature because of a groin problem.

Wenger on Thursday sold unsettled midfielder Lassana Diarra to Portsmouth, and for a healthy profit, yet has no intentions of strengthening his squad during the transfer window - despite the loss of key defender Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song to the African Nations Cup.

The Arsenal manager remains convinced there is enough talent in his emerging young side - which has come a long way in a short space of time after losing talisman captain Thierry Henry during the summer - to secure their first silverware since the FA Cup in 2005.

"There is a real hunger and we are all on the same wavelength. We have the same love for the game, and that drives you on," declared Wenger, his side still in the hunt for European honours and both domestic cup competitions, while behind league leaders Manchester United only on goal difference.

"You feel there is a potential in the side and that you want to win, but they want to win as well."

Wenger added: "We have taken a step forwards, because at this period of last season they were 16 or 17 points behind the leader. This year after 21 games, we were two points in front.

"That must give us belief, first of all that we have come higher up because Liverpool have invested, Manchester United have invested, Chelsea have invested as always, and we still have made up the ground and are in front of them.

"That makes me believe we can win trophies at the end of the season."