Cardiff draw on Dutch courage

I have no fear when I play Robin van Persie - I know all his tricks Cardiff defender Glenn Loovens Arsenal v Cardiff team news

Cardiff defender Glenn Loovens is happy that Thierry Henry will not be turning out for Arsenal on Saturday as the Bluebirds visit Highbury in the FA Cup.

Understandable, you might think, given that Henry is one of the world's finest striking talents.

But Loovens' contentment has nothing to do with avoiding trial by Thierry.

Instead Henry's absence ensures that Loovens gets to face great friend and fellow Dutchman Robin van Persie instead.

"Robin rang me straight after we were drawn against each other in the third round and we are both looking forward to it," Loovens said.

The pair lived just two streets away from each other in Rotterdam and were both signed up by local side Feyenoord when they were 13.

"Since then we train and play together every day, and still call each other once or twice a week to see how games went," Loovens added.

"He was always a player with different skills and I always thought he was going to be a great player.

"But I have no fear when I play against him - I know all his tricks so let's bring it on!

"We have a little bet going on: he says he's going to score and I think he's not going to score... so we'll see who's going to win on Saturday.

"Of course we all (the Cardiff players) have to have a good day to make something of this match."

Van Persie signs new Arsenal deal

Van Persie, who signed a contract extension on Friday that will keep him with Arsenal until 2011, is set to start for the Gunners after recovering from a knee injury and is also eager to face his old friend.

"It's funny because I'm playing as a right striker and he's playing as a left-sided centre back, so we'll be facing each other most of the time," Van Persie said.

"It will be quite a strange feeling for me because it will be the first time I've played against one of my old mates.

"There were so many clubs in the draw and so why Cardiff? It was amazing."

While Van Persie cost the Gunners £2.75m from Feyenoord in May 2004, Loovens still belongs to the Dutch top-flight side and is on a season-long loan at Ninian Park.

But if Loovens stifles the Van Persie goal threat on Saturday, the Arsenal player will only have himself to blame for recommending that his friend try out British football.

"Robin said to me that it's my type of game over here and I would fit in it, I would like it and he was right," Loovens said.

Loovens will like it even more if the Bluebirds can spring a surprise on the Gunners on Saturday.