Arsenal ace Robin van Persie says he was fortunate to avoid long-term injury after damaging his ankle in a tackle from Italy's Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini.

The Holland forward - who has scored eight goals in 15 games in all competitions this season and emerged as one of the Gunners' key figures - has been ruled out for at least six weeks with partially-torn ankle ligaments following a heavy challenge from Chiellini during Saturday's friendly in Pescara.

Van Persie accepted his injury could have been much worse.

The Dutchman added: "A scan showed that my ankle ligament was almost completely torn off where Chiellini caught me but it was not intentional.

"I was lucky, it could be worse."