Robin van Persie is facing a lengthy lay-off with an ankle injury.

Van Persie will be unavailable for Manchester United when they play Arsenal in the FA Cup quarterfinals on March 9.

Van Persie suffered the ankle injury on Saturday.

Scans have shown the injury is “not heavy”, according to his manager Louis van Gaal, but he still expects a relatively long spell out for his leading striker.

“He is injured. He is the only injured player I have so we change [Michael] Carrick for Van Persie,” he said.