The 26-year-old Holland striker suffered ankle ligament damage following a tackle from Italy's Giorgio Chiellini in a friendly during the international break.

Initially the prognosis was that van Persie would be back in action by the start of January, and the forward - who had scored eight goals at the head of Arsenal's new-look attack - even went to Serbia for some radical treatment which included massage with placenta.

However, the Gunners' medical team have since reviewed the injury and its treatment, concluding the player must go under the knife, and he is now not expected back until April at best.

The loss of the skilful Dutchman is a major blow to the ambitions of Arsene Wenger's young squad this season, who trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by eight points ahead of Sunday's showdown at the Emirates Stadium.

Van Persie, though, called on his team-mates to find the strength to continue their progress and still be challenging for honours when he returns for the end-of-season run-in.

"I hope the boys keep believing in themselves. I am absolutely convinced they will keep improving and keep the good form of the last few months going," van Persie told Dutch newspaper AD Sportwereld.

"If I had known at the time what I know now, I would have been operated [on] immediately.

"We have all been steered in the wrong direction."

Van Persie continued: "It is so frustrating to be out for months. I was having a super season with the team.

"I had never felt as strong and powerful as this year. Apart from, I think, two matches, I either scored or made goals in all the games we played this season.

"I was getting so strong, that I felt nobody could stop me any more. That is the greatest feeling you can have as a player.

"It is such a pity that great run has been stopped for the time being by one kick in a friendly international match.

"It is a real shame for me, for the team and for the fans of Arsenal."

Van Persie, however, feels he was right to visit to Serbian doctor Mariana Kovacevic given what problem was diagnosed at the time.

"In the area of torn muscles and partly torn ligaments she has treated players in the majority of cases with success," van Persie said.

"A number of Liverpool and Chelsea players have all benefited from her treatments. They were all back on the pitch in a very short time.

"As I was enjoying a fantastic period with Arsenal and the first official diagnosis from the doctors was that I would be out for six weeks, I wanted to bring that period back to three or four weeks.

"But the ligaments in my ankle were completely ruptured. That's why the treatment in Serbia, we know now, never had the chance to be successful from the start.

"I have never wanted to go for alternative medical help before. Normally I am too cool for that kind of thing, but because I wanted to grab every opportunity to get fit again and to be back on the pitch with Arsenal, I decided to have a go. If it does not help me, it won't harm me either. That was my motto.

"I had the treatment methods checked intensively before I went out there.

"I demanded to know if there was any way it could do any damage. It couldn't, which is why I went.

"A lot has been said and written about it. But the method of treatment in Serbia is not a bizarre thing. I did not have anything injected in my body. The treatment was solely on the surface."

Van Persie added: "I was in continuous contact with the medical staff at Arsenal, with whom I have an excellent relationship.

"In fact, I admire our medical people at the club for giving me the chance to work on a really fast return into the team.

"A lot of other people made comments without having any knowledge of the treatment methods in Serbia."

Given the extended absence for Van Persie, Arsenal manager Wenger could now make a move when the transfer window opens in January to bolster his attacking options, with Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh still on the radar.

Immediate attentions though will be on a composed team display against Chelsea on Sunday.

"For us, the most important thing is to focus on our own game and do not focus on any specific individual on the other side," said Wenger.

"We must believe in our own strengths.

"We have enough strength in our locker to beat anybody in the world, and not to worry or care too much about the opponent.

"That is the key for our success."

Wenger continued: "If you ask 'what is Arsenal?' We are a real team. The first strength of Arsenal is team play.

"So let us express our strengths as a team against Chelsea."