Interesting article coming from a number of sources who say the Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has flown to Serbia to visit a housewife who claims to have magical healing powers by way of utilising fluid from a placenta to massage.

Sources include the Irish Independent, The Daily Mail and other online sources. Funnily enough, Indo states that the fluid is human of origin, whereas the other sources state its horse placental fluid. You’d have to believe it was the latter and that someone in the Indo is “slightly” mistaken.  RvP’s injury has come from a tackle from Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in a recent Holland v Italy match. As the fluid is only used superfluously, you would think that the actual type of fluid (placental vs. say Fastum massage gel) wouldn’t make much of a difference, as the ankle region doesn’t have the most absorbent of skin, and anything absorbed surely wouldn’t get into the ligamental area in any great concentration. Not much is known of the “witchdoctor” in Belgrade, but two of RvP’s former teammates have made miraculous recoveries, with Danko Lazovic making a recover in one week from a hamstrong injury which was expected in five weeks. Orlando Engelaar had a simialr recovery.

With RvP not expected back until Christmas, it will be itnerested to see if we see him pull on the Arsenal shirt sooner than this. Arsenal fans will certainly be hoping so.

-Brian (brian dot c at lifescience dot ie)