Nicklas Bendtner and Marouane Chamakh are set to audition for Arsenal's lone striker role for next week's crunch Champions League match against Barcelona when the Premier League title-chasers host Sunderland on Saturday.
That includes league matches against Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion, an FA Cup quarterfinal match at Manchester United and Tuesday's second leg of the Champions League last-16 against Barcelona.
Bendtner and Chamakh were both on target in Arsenal's 5-0 rout of Leyton Orient in an FA Cup fifth-round replay on Wednesday and will be looking to get in the goals at Emirates Stadium this weekend as the London team attempts to keep the pressure on United, the league leader.
"It's a tear of the ligament at the back of the knee for Van Persie and it's 3-4 weeks out. He will not play before the international break," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
"We have lost Van Persie so for Bendtner and Chamakh to score is going to be very important so they have a level of confidence they need to be successful in the big games."
Arsenal, which is four points behind United in second place but with a game in hand, may be the only team capable of stopping Alex Ferguson's side from claiming an English-record 19th league title.
Injuries are starting to hit the Gunners, though. Van Persie, who sustained his knee problem in last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Birmingham in the League Cup final, joined an absentee list that already included captain Cesc Fabregas, winger Theo Walcott and first-choice defender Thomas Vermaelen.
Wenger will hope no more of his players get injured when a hard-working Sunderland team visits the capital, with Arsenal still in contention for three trophies.
"It will be tight and exciting," Wenger said of the league run-in. "I don't rule Manchester City (which is six points behind Arsenal) out. Everybody can drop points everywhere.
"If we can maintain our run and our consistency, we have a very good chance."
United travels to fierce rival Liverpool on Sunday for the standout match in the Premier League this weekend.
Ferguson was charged with improper conduct on Thursday following his critical comments about the referee in charge during Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.
The Scot is facing at least a two-match touchline ban but will be in the dugout at Anfield as the club considers whether to appeal against the charge.
Back-ups Wes Brown and Chris Smalling will deputize but could be in for a rough ride if Liverpool give a debut to Andy Carroll, the England striker who is back in training after more than a month out with a thigh injury.
Sixth-place Liverpool is desperate for a win to kickstart its late push for a Champions League place and also to halt United's charge to a title that will see the Manchester side surpass the Reds' haul of 18 English championships.
"We want to help ourselves first. If we help ourselves and it hinders somebody else then that's not our problem, that's theirs," said Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish.
"If we get a result on Sunday, it is more helpful to us than it is harmful to them."
Man City hosts bottom side Wigan on Saturday but will be unable to call on defender Kolo Toure, who was suspended on Thursday after failing a drugs test last month.
On Monday, Fernando Torres will look to score his first goal for fourth-place Chelsea when the defending champion travels to Blackpool while Tottenham - which is a point further back in fifth - visits Wolverhampton on Sunday.
Saturday's other matches see second-bottom West Ham host Stoke, fourth-bottom West Brom go to Birmingham, Bolton at home to Aston Villa, Fulham host Blackburn and Everton visit Newcastle.
