Cesc Fabregas has described Robin van Persie as “the perfect striker” ahead of Arsenal’s crucial Champions League clash in Barcelona.

Van Persie was a surprise addition to the Gunners’ squad for the match at the Nou Camp, having previously been ruled out for the majority of March with a knee injury picked up in the Carling Cup final.

The Netherlands international, who has ten goals in nine Premier League starts this season, is now set to spearhead Arsenal’s attack as they aim to defend a 2-1 lead in Spain – and Fabregas is elated to see him in the travelling party.

“Robin is a very important player for us, he is the perfect striker, he can do everything and understands the game very, very well,” said Fabregas. “For a midfielder to have a player like him, it is fantastic because he gives you all the options that you need.

“I was very surprised [to hear he was in the squad] because this [Monday] morning we did not know anything about it. He woke up feeling great and said he wanted to try and practice. No-one wanted to cheat on anyone, it has been a surprise on the whole team.

“He was bandaging his ankle for training and said ‘I am doing great and I want to try. Let’s see how I feel tomorrow’. If he is fit to play, it would be very good.”

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Roma coach Vincenzo Montella is confident his side can end Shakhtar Donetsk’s 100% home record in this season’s Champions League when the two sides meet on Tuesday night.

Claudio Ranieri was in charge of the Giallorossi when they lost the first leg of the last-16 clash 2-3 at the Stadio Olimpico but the former Chelsea manager quit last month.

Under caretaker coach Montella, who was promoted from his role with the Italian club’s junior team, Roma have gone three games unbeaten in Serie A and are full of confidence following a 2-1 win at Lecce on Saturday.

And his side will need to be in top form to get the win they require against the big-spending Ukrainian side, who have not lost a match at home in any competition since moving to the Donbass Arena in 2009.

“They are a quality team who haven’t lost for 60 games, but they are beatable,” Montella said. “I want to see the same Roma side who faced Lecce, a team who were concentrated right up until the final whistle.

“I’m optimistic because Roma are clearly growing. We have a better squad than our opponents, but we are aware that we have a feat to achieve.

“It’s important that my players have the right stimulus. They have a certain style of play, but we have our characteristics too.”

Montella was at home when the first leg was played and insists he saw some positives despite the loss.

“I saw the first leg on television,” he added. “Roma started well but then had 10 minutes of madness. They were then able to react again and had opportunities to equalise.”

Roma captain Francesco Totti spoke highly of Montella and the impact he has had since taking control of the club.

“When he turned up it seemed as if he had been coaching for 20 years,” Totti said. “We have an excellent rapport and I hope he stays for some time. Montella has come in and changed our form.

“We have returned to patterns we know well. The derby [on Sunday] is important, but now we are playing in Europe.

“Shakhtar? We have to get through. We know who we are facing and what counter-measures are needed. We can cause them difficulties.”

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Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov has lauded his former Tottenham Hotpsur team-mate Gareth Bale as “one of the best players in the world”.

Bale, who made a name around Europe after scoring a hat-trick at the San Siro in October, is in line to face AC Milan in the Champions League at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night, with Spurs holding a 1-0 advantage, after recovering from injury.

Harry Redknapp’s side are again pushing for a top-four place this season and United striker Berbatov is delighted to see his old club doing so well.

“Their position doesn’t surprise me. When I was there I was aware of the young talent that is now their major asset – players like Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale have matured and become great players, ” Berbatov told United’s website.

“When I was there Bale was a talented teenager, now he’s one of the best players in the world. I saw he had potential. He trained hard and was pushing to be involved.

“I’m glad they kept faith in him – other teams were interested in buying him – now they’re reaping the rewards.”

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AC Milan midfielder Robinho has claimed that Tottenham play the long-ball game and that he will use his ‘knowledge of English teams’ to help his side progress.

Robinho spent 18 months in England playing for Manchester City after a £32 million transfer from Real Madrid, but now faces Spurs for his new side Milan with a 1-0 deficit to overturn.

The Brazilian, though, is confident that the Italians will not be bothered by Spurs’ aerial assault this time around.

“We are in form and ready to win,” Robinho told the Daily Mirror. “Unfortunately, we lost the home leg in a difficult match. And we conceded a goal when we were playing better.

“But that does not mean we cannot win there. I honestly believe we can win in England. Spurs play in a different way, focusing on physical strength, plenty of crosses into the box – especially because they have a very tall player in Peter Crouch. I think they will play exactly the same way again in the return leg.

“I played for a year and a half in England and I know how English teams play – very well.”

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri also waded in, claiming that his side have nothing to fear from a side playing Champions League football for the first time.

“It must be said that, despite playing good football, Tottenham are not among the strongest in Europe,” he said.

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Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham claims that the club are struggling because they do not have a real leader in the side.

United have lost three out of their last five Premier League games – including a painful 3-1 loss to Liverpool – as their challenge for the title has been somewhat derailed, with many critics pointing to a lack of quality in the centre of the pitch.

Sheringham won the Treble with United in 1999 under the captaincy of Roy Keane and now says that Sir Alex Ferguson’s current crop are desperate for a similar style of player to take command of the dressing room.

“When you are a top team, you have to have a leader, a power house,” he said. “It was always Roy Keane in my day.

“Wayne Rooney has been that talisman when he’s on top form, but he’s not been there for six months. When your main talisman isn’t firing and leading you, I think the other players need someone else to respond to.

“Someone else needs to take up the mantle. Dimitar Berbatov has at times, but he’s not really that sort of character. You need a leader for that great team.”

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