 |
|
|
Goal: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Sander Boschker (FC Twente) en Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht)
Defense: John Heitinga (Everton), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Joris Mathijsen (HSV), André Ooijer (PSV), Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart) en Edson Braafheid (Bayern München)
Midfield: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Mark van Bommel (Bayern München), Stijn Schaars (AZ) en Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax)
Attack: Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuijt (Liverpool), Arjen Robben (Bayern München), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan) en Eljero Elia (HSV)
|
|
Robin van Persie proved his worth as central striker with two fine volleys to lift the Netherlands to a 2-1 win over Mexico in a World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday.
The Dutch started with only five first-team regulars after coach Bert van Marwijk said the match would be the last test before he reduces his 27-man squad to 23 on Thursday.
The Dutch were without Arjen Robben, Mark van Bommel and Wesley Sneijder, who all featured in Saturday's Champions League final.
Van Persie led the line alongside Dirk Kuyt and Ibrahim Afellay with Rafael van der Vaart as playmaker.
The Dutch made a bright start and created chances before Van Persie opened the scoring from Van der Vaart's crossfield pass and the Arsenal forward added a second three minutes before the interval.
But Mexico, also World Cup-bound, dominated the second half and tested the nervous Dutch defence more than once before Javier Hernandez headed home from close range.
"We showed some fine combination football in the first half, though followed by a lesser second but for a first friendly match we can be satisfied," Van Persie told SBS6-TV.
Van Marwijk said he understood why the performance had been a bit flat.
"Van Persie was excellent tonight with two beautiful goals, but we missed the power in the second half and allowed Mexico to play much better," he said.
"But that all has to do with the intensive training sessions last days."
The Dutch host Ghana on June 1 in Rotterdam and Hungary four days later in Amsterdam before travelling to South Africa where they face Denmark in their World Cup opener on June 14. Japan and Cameroon are their other group opponents.
Netherlands: Stekelenburg, Boulahrouz, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Braafheid (Anita 46), Kuijt, De Zeeuw, Schaars (Engelaar 46), Van der Vaart (Elia 71), Afellay, Van Persie (Huntelaar 46)
Mexico: Ochoa, Aguilar (Vela 55), Magallón, Moreno, Torres, Israel Castro, Guardado (Juárez 46), Torrado, Blanco (Barrera 46), Hernández, Medina (Giovani 55)
Goals: Van Persie 1-0 '17, 2-0 '41, Hernández 2-1 '74
Booked: Moreno
www.reuters.com
|
|
Robin van Persie skipped the training session on Monday evening. It was the second training session of the day. Holland manager Bert van Marwijk gave the Arsenal striker some rest.
"Robin has been injured for a long time", said Van Marwijk. "We don't want to put too much pressure on him. There's nothing to worry about. Robin is doing very well."
|
|
The Netherlands should build their attack around striker Robin van Persie supported by Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart, Van Persie said on Thursday.
The four players have agreed that this formation would give the Dutch the best chance of success at next month's World Cup.
"I heard their opinions and it pleases me that we appreciate each other's qualities," Van Persie told Reuters.
"It is a party to play with them. They all are good players who are creative and think offensive."
That formation would leave Dirk Kuyt out of the side. Kuyt replaced Van Persie in the first World Cup qualifier against Macedonia and started the other seven matches, scoring three goals.
"Nothing negative about Kuyt, who is a good player and deserved his credit but this is my opinion," Van Persie added. "But finally it will be the decision of the coach."
Van Persie said he preferred to play as a central striker with Sneijder as playmaker, Robben on the right and Van der Vaart the left.
"If we can work on giving everything for each other the whole tournament I believe we will be unstoppable," the 26-year-old Van Persie said.
"With these four players in one team we really will be unique and will have an excellent chance of success."
Van Persie played six qualifying matches and scored one goal before he sustained an ankle injury in November in a friendly against Italy.
He underwent surgery and was sidelined for five months before returning to the Arsenal team in April.
Despite playing only three Premier League matches, Van Persie said he felt ready for his third major tournament.
"I am not a player who needs much rhythm to be back" he said. "The most important thing is to be physically fit and with a clear mind.
"I compare it with a singer who didn't sing for years. He just has to practise a bit as he will not forget how to sing and I think that is the same with technical players like me."
The Dutch start their World Cup campaign on June 14 against Denmark and also face Japan and Cameroon in the group stage.
www.reuters.com
|
|
Robin Van Persie hopes Sol Campbell will sign a new contract with Arsenal because the defender is exactly the character needed in the Gunners' dressing room.
The defender made a shock return to Emirates Stadium in January but his short-term contract expires this summer.
Talks are ongoing between Campbell and Arsène Wenger and following Sunday's win over Fulham striker Van Persie was asked if he wanted Campbell to be an Arsenal player next season.
"I hope so," he responded. "I think his character is great, he is a winner, he is honest - the Dutch way almost. In Holland, we are used to people who are direct, who say what they think and he is like that, very much.
"He is one of those characters you need in a squad - when someone is easing off he just tells you, 'listen, this is not the way to do it. Sharpen up because otherwise this isn't going to work.'
"We need that and that is why I am very pleased that he is here. When you look at when he came and the way he ended the last couple of months - fantastic.
"He made a sprint against Spurs, 60 metres, sprinting against a younger guy. There you go; that was special."
Van Persie donated £1,800 to Great Ormond Street Hospital at the Arsenal Charity Ball last week in order to win an auction for one of Tony Adams' England shirts.
The top was signed by the former Gunner and though Van Persie never played alongside Adams, he believes the new manager of Azerbaijan side Gabala FC would have been just as good a team-mate as Campbell has been.
"I never played with him but I heard lots of stories about him," said Van Persie.
"I respect him as a person because you hear stories from players and I have a friend in Holland who knows him personally.
"The stories he tells me are great. He is a leader by example but I just work with Sol, so I can't really compare them but the word day-to-day is they are both great."
www.arsenal.com
|
|
Robin Van Persie has only watched Marouane Chamakh on television - but he likes what he has seen.
The Moroccan striker has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal when his contract with Bordeaux expires this summer and Arsène Wenger admitted last week that he was "confident" a deal will be done.
Chamakh could link up with Van Persie at Emirates Stadium and the Dutch forward is excited at the prospect.
"[I know him] just from TV," said Van Persie.
"He looks good, he looks quite strong in the air, he scores lots of goals with his head and he looks quite confident on the ball.
"Hopefully it [the deal] goes through. I think it is good for all of us and that is why I am happy to see him coming here."
www.arsenal.com
|
|
Having three teams in next season's Champions League is good for London, according to Robin Van Persie.
Tottenham won the race to finish fourth and will join Arsenal and Chelsea in the 2010/11 Champions League if they win their qualifier.
That means three London clubs will compete in the competition for the first time. Van Persie believes that is a good thing for the English capital and hopes Arsenal can be the first club from the city to win Europe's premier footballing prize.
"It is good for London but hopefully we will win it," he said.
"It is about time for a London club to win the Champions League because that has never happened. It has been very close but it has never happened.
The striker added that it was crucial for the Gunners to avoid having to play a Champions League qualifier.
"It is very important because we would have two games extra," he said.
"I think the first qualifying game is after the first Premier League game. That is a period where we want to focus on the League and get used to the League again and you don't really want to play those two games."
www.vi.nl
|
|
Arsenal crushed a weakened Fulham side to ensure they ended the season in third place in the Premier League.
The Gunners needed only a point to stay above Tottenham and they easily beat Fulham, who rested players ahead of Wednesday's Europa League final.
Andrey Arshavin punished an error by Mark Schwarzer to open the scoring and Robin van Persie slotted in the second.
Chris Baird turned Theo Walcott's cross into his own net and Carlos Vela sealed the win with a cheeky dinked chip.
It could have been more for Arsenal, who barely needed to hit top gear to secure the result that clinches automatic entry into the Champions League next season.
Not that any blame could be laid at Fulham's door after a remarkable season for the Cottagers in which they could still do what Arsenal failed to do and win silverware.
Roy Hodgson's side face Atletico Madrid in midweek and it was inevitable key players would be rested ahead of the match in Hamburg.
The Fulham boss made eight changes in total, which indicated he was willing to sacrifice the chance to potentially finish ninth in the table, seemingly settling for 12th place - and close to £3m less in prize money.
However, should Fulham triumph on Wednesday surely none of that will matter.
Arsenal themselves might cast an envious glance Fulham's way after their season fell apart in recent weeks as they exited the Champions League and blew their title chances, making it five seasons without a trophy.
The Gunners' campaign would have ended on a very sour note had they relinquished third place to bitter-rivals Tottenham, and from the start they appeared determined not to let that happen.
Van Persie quickly brought out the best in Schwarzer, who produced a stunning save to tip away a shot headed for the top corner and Samir Nasri sent a low shot narrowly wide of the post.
After Sol Campbell almost got on the end of a Van Persie free-kick and Arshavin tested Schwarzer, it seemed a matter of time before the hosts got the opener.
And it came when Schwarzer miscontrolled a backpass, allowing Arshavin to nick the ball, round the Australian and slot in from a tight angle.
It was soon 2-0 when Walcott squared for Van Persie, who stroked in after Schwarzer had deflected his first shot on to the bar but was unlucky to see it bounce back to the striker.
Aside from the goal, Van Persie's influence was obvious - his creativity, vision and touch were top class - and Arsenal may well reflect on how the season may have turned out had the Dutchman not been injured for most of it.
Arsenal got their third when Walcott sent in a low cross from the right, Emmanuel Eboue flicked it on and Baird could only turn the ball into his own net.
Walcott should have added another when clean though on goal, but he dragged his shot wide - not the impression he would want to make given that England boss Fabio Capello names his 30-man provisional World Cup squad this week.
At the end of the half, Fulham had two chances from rare attacks but Stefano Okaka fell backwards when he tried to get a shot away and Erik Nevland headed over the bar.
After the interval the pace dropped, but Arsenal still carved out chances as Fulham sat back.
Van Persie was denied by a stunning reaction save from Schwarzer at close range and the striker hit the foot of post from the rebound.
Fulham were let off again when Van Persie rifled over after cutting in from the right.
But Arsene Wenger's men were not to be denied a fourth goal and it came when substitute Vela latched on to a pass by Nasri and finished with a classy effort.
Arsenal
* 21 Fabianski yellow card
* 03 Sagna
* 18 Silvestre (Djourou 62)
* 22 Clichy
* 27 Eboue yellow card
* 31 Campbell
* 02 Diaby
* 08 Nasri
* 14 Walcott (Lansbury 77)
* 23 Arshavin (Vela 77)
* 11 Van Persie
Substitutes
* 24 Mannone,
* 20 Djourou,
* 28 Gibbs,
* 37 Eastmond,
* 32 Merida,
* 45 Lansbury,
* 12 Vela
Fulham
* 01 Schwarzer
* 04 Pantsil (Kelly 58 yellow card)
* 06 Baird
* 07 Shorey
* 26 Smalling
* 17 Riise (Elm 46)
* 23 Dempsey yellow card (Stoor 67)
* 27 Greening
* 34 Dikgacoi
* 09 Okaka Chuka
* 10 Nevland
Substitutes
* 19 Zuberbuhler,
* 02 Kelly,
* 22 Stoor,
* 11 Gera,
* 13 Murphy,
* 29 Davies,
* 35 Elm
Goals: Arshavin 1-0 '21, Van Persie 2-0 '26, Baird 3-0 (og) '37, Vela 4-0 '84
Ref: Jones
Att: 60,039
www.bbc.co.uk
|
|
Chris Samba scored the winner as Blackburn came from behind to defeat Arsenal, who must wait to secure third place in the Premier League.
Robin van Persie put Arsenal ahead with a header from six yards but Blackburn equalised when David Dunn tapped home after a corner was not cleared.
Lukasz Fabianski saved from Morten Gamst Pedersen and Junior Hoilett.
But Rovers bombarded the Arsenal keeper with high balls, and it was from a corner that Samba headed the winner.
The home team are assured of a mid-table finish after moving from 13th to 10th in the table.
But Arsenal's aim of finishing third - and therefore avoiding having to qualify for the group stage of next season's Champions League - could go down to the final day.
The Gunners have one game left to play, but Manchester City and Tottenham, who play each other on Wednesday, lead the chasing pack and could still potentially catch Arsenal.
It was a frustrating afternoon for visiting boss Arsene Wenger, who appeared to be unhappy with what he saw as Rovers' robust approach to the contest.
On the field, Fabianski repeatedly complained to referee Martin Atkinson, although replays suggested that on several occasions at least, Rovers were guilty of nothing more than standing their ground.
Arsenal had settled quickly and Theo Walcott's blistering pace created a fourth-minute opening that Carlos Vela, making his first Premier League start since the closing stages of last season, should have converted but missed from six yards.
Rovers were the next to threaten, with Fabianski diving sharply to his right to save a free-kick from Pedersen, but Arsenal clearly possessed the greater cutting edge in the early stages and took the lead after 13 minutes.
Bacary Sagna flicked on a corner at the near post and Van Persie headed home unmarked to score his 10th goal in nine games against Rovers.
Paul Robinson parried a free-kick from Van Persie, while Pedersen again forced Fabianski into action with a dead-ball strike that swerved viciously.
Rovers took every opportunity to test the handling of Fabianski, who landed heavily on his right knee as he jumped above Sol Campbell to collect a loose ball.
The Arsenal keeper was able to continue but he was picking the ball out of his net shortly before the break after his team failed to deal with a corner.
The ball eventually fell to Keith Andrews, who drilled a low cross back across goal that several Arsenal players failed to clear, gifting Dunn a simple tap-in.
It had been an entertaining opening half in the spring sunshine at Ewood Park - and the openings continued after the break.
Andrews played an excellent through ball to Pedersen, whose shot was parried by Fabianski. Pedersen chased the rebound and went down under a challenge from Campbell but Atkinson was not interested in his penalty appeals.
Dunn played Hoilett through, with the substitute forcing Fabianski to tip his strike over the crossbar, before Arsenal threatened to regain the lead.
Van Persie embarrassed Michael Salgado with a sharp turn but the Dutch striker lost his footing as his opponent tried to rescue the situation. Once again, Atkinson waved away the penalty appeal.
Mikael Silvestre almost diverted a flick-on into this own net as he tried to clear the danger, but Rovers scored the winner after the visiting team failed to deal with the physical presence of Samba.
The Rovers skipper stood close to the Arsenal goal-line as a corner was delivered and finished the simplest of headers after both Fabianski and Campbell failed to clear the danger.
Arsenal substitute Andrey Arshavin forced a decent save from Robinson but Rovers held out to ensure that they avoided defeat against the Gunners, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool at home this season.
Blackburn
01 Robinson
04 Samba
05 Givet
06 Nelsen
21 Olsson
27 Salgado
08 Dunn (Jones 85)
11 Grella yellow card (Hoilett 57)
12 Pedersen yellow card
17 Andrews
09 Roberts
Substitutes
32 Brown,
02 Jacobsen,
28 Jones,
07 Emerton,
20 Basturk,
23 Hoilett,
26 Di Santo
Arsenal
21 Fabianski
03 Sagna
18 Silvestre yellow card
27 Eboue (Eduardo 77)
30 Traore
31 Campbell yellow card
02 Diaby
08 Nasri
14 Walcott
11 Van Persie
12 Vela (Arshavin 67)
Substitutes
24 Mannone,
20 Djourou,
28 Gibbs,
37 Eastmond,
23 Arshavin,
43 Henderson,
09 Eduardo
Goals: Van Persie 0-1 '13, Dunn 1-1 '44, Samba 2-1 '68.
Att: 26,138
www.bbc.co.uk
|
|
Robin van Persie was classed an enigma when he arrived at Arsenal six years ago from Feyenoord.
He was hugely talented, but was perceived to have attitude problems after a series of run-ins with his coaches.
Ronald de Boer, the former Holland international, has watched the progress of his compatriot with interest since those days as a temperamental teenager.
He had his doubts that van Persie could meet expectations and become a great player.
Now De Boer has no such reservations and draws comparisons between Van Persie and a legend of the Oranje.
“For me, he has the quality to be as good as Marco van Basten [the former AC Milan striker],” said De Boer, who played with such distintion at Ajax and Barcelona.
“His left foot is like gold. Van Basten was one of the best and had to stop early, but could have been more legendary.
“If Van Persie can stay fit and continue to perform at the highest level, he can achieve that.
“In Holland, we always had high expectations about him when he was younger, but he never fulfilled his potential until probably this season.
“Before, there was a doubt about whether he could keep his head straight and focused. Now he doesn’t lose his head, he is very professional and calm. He has matured and it has made him a better player.”
Van Persie has flourished since their departures of Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Adebayor from north London.
He has thriven on the responsibility of being the focus of the attack and, now 26, is also entrusted with the captaincy in the absence of the injured Cesc Fabregas.
Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has admitted their challenge for the Premier League and Champions League would have been stronger had van Persie not missed almost six months of the season with an ankle injury.
De Boer concurs and says Holland can reap the benefits of his enforced rest at this summer’s World Cup finals.
“He was fantastic before the injury,” he added. “When Adebayor left, Van Persie took over the attack, created and scored goals, and became an important player for Arsenal.
“They looked a very strong side when he was there and any team would miss him. In a selfish way his absence could be a good thing for Holland. He will now be fresher for the World Cup and hungry to do well because he has missed so much for Arsenal.
“This will be the perfect stage for him to show what a top player he has now become.”
Arsenal will hope Van Persie can do that in the final two league games to help the club finish their season on a high, starting with the trip to Blackburn today.
But, as Manchester United and Chelsea will testify, Ewood Park has this season become a difficult place for any visiting side.
A top-10 finish is still possible for Rovers and Sam Allardyce, the Blackburn manager, hopes last week’s golfing break in Scotland will provide an end-of-season zest for his side.
“Earlier this year we went to Dubai and that also worked as we had another surge of results,” he told reporters.
www.thenational.ae
|
|
Arsenal are bound to have concerns about Robin van Persie's fitness during the World Cup after their star striker became embroiled in a dispute with Holland over which physio will attend to him.
Van Persie, who has just returned from almost five months out after rupturing his ankle ligaments while on national duty, wants to take his own physio, Leo Echteld, who supervised his rehabilitation, with him to South Africa.
But Holland are not planning to include Echteld, who is also used by Dirk Kuyt, Aarjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, in their medical team.
Van Persie said: 'More than 10 players in the World Cup squad use him and want him there but the federation wants to follow a different path.'
www.dailymail.co.uk
|
|
Arsenal star Robin van Persie does not care about former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor after refusing to shake the Manchester City player's hand.
The pair met at Emirates Stadium on Saturday for the first time since their clash at Eastlands earlier in the season when Adebayor, who left the Gunners for City last summer, raked his studs across the face of Van Persie.
There remains bad blood from that incident and Van Persie was forced to refute allegations that a weekend booking for a challenge on his ex-colleague was some attempt at retribution.
The Dutchman, though, was not interested in any attempt at reconciliation with Adebayor and instead insists he is choosing to concentrate on his own team.
"I've not spoken to him," said Van Persie. "I don't care about him because I'm just busy with my own team."
Of his challenge on Adebayor, the forward added: "There was nothing in it. In football you make tackles. That was one of them."
Van Persie completed 90 minutes for the first time since rupturing ankle ligaments last November and he was delighted to complete a full match.
"I'm so pleased to be back. The plan was to play for 60 or 70 minutes, but everything felt good so I played on," he said.
Van Persie's injury is considered to have been a main hindrance in Arsenal's failed Premier League title challenge, with the 26-year-old rated as one of the best forwards in the world.
The former Feyenoord ace does not think he is quite on a par with the likes of Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who destroyed Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League, but he thinks that he could reach the level of the Argentine in the future.
Van Persie said in The Sun when asked if he was as good as Messi: "Those are big words, because players like Messi are unbelievable.
"It is a bit early to say. I still have to prove it, but I hope to be in that place one day.
"I think I have the qualities to do so, but you need time, you need games and you need to be fit. I just want to have a season without injuries and be happy."
www.skysports.com
|
|
Robin Van Persie admits he still has a long way to go before he can justify comparisons with Lionel Messi.
Earlier this month Arsène Wenger claimed that his Dutch striker would be considered a "world great" like the Barcelona star if he had sustained his early-season form instead of rupturing ankle ligaments in November.
Van Persie is finally back in the Arsenal side after that injury and followed an impressive cameo at Tottenham by completing 90 minutes against Manchester City on Saturday.
The 26-year-old showed glimpses of his class at Emirates Stadium but he says he needs more fortune with his fitness if he is to scale the same heights as Messi.
"I still have to prove it [that Wenger is right]. Those are big words, because players like Messi are unbelievable. It is a bit early to say," said Van Persie.
"It is not really pressure on me, but I hope to be in that place one day. I think I have the qualities to do so, but you need time, you need games and you need to be fit.
"I hope there is more to come from me. I just want to have a season without injuries and be happy."
www.arsenal.com
|
|
Manchester City moved to within one point of fourth-placed Tottenham as Arsenal's mathematical chances of winning the league title disappeared.
But the point came at some cost for City with keeper Shay Given stretchered off with a suspected broken shoulder after he made a second-half save.
In a poor first half, Given was called into action just once, which was more than counterpart Lukasz Fabianski was.
Arsenal's Robin Van Persie went close late on with his free-kick inches wide.
Arsenal's best chance of the game came with 20 minutes remaining when Abou Diaby forced a fine save from Given, who superbly tipped the French midfielder's 20-yard low strike round the post.
But in making the save, City's keeper injured his left shoulder and play was stopped for five minutes as the former Newcastle keeper received treatment before he was stretchered off the pitch.
During a turgid first-half, Arsenal enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to break down a resilient defence that was brilliantly marshalled by former Gunners centre-half Kolo Toure, despite the loss of Wayne Bridge after 27 minutes with a dead leg.
Carlos Tevez was an isolated figure up front as City continuously pumped long balls up to the Argentine, which Arsenal defender Sol Campbell lapped up with consummate ease.
With Tevez struggling, Craig Bellamy and Adam Johnson on the flanks also failed to have any impact in the opening 45 minutes.
Arsenal's solitary chance came from Smair Nasri whose angled shot from Van Persie's fine pass was comfortably kept out by Given.
Earlier Nasri had been dubiously flagged offside after latching onto another Van Persie's through ball with replays suggesting the French international had timed his run perfectly.
At the other end, Campbell's last-ditch tackle prevented a marauding Patrick Viera from pulling the trigger from just inside the area.
It took City manager Roberto Mancini just six minutes of the second half before he turned to former Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
He came on for ex-Gunners captain Viera, who left the field to a standing ovation, while Adebayor's arrival was greeted with a chorus of boos.
That hostile reception was due to Adebayor's altercation with Van Persie earlier in the season, as well as his infamous goal celebration in front of the Arsenal fans at Eastlands during City's 4-2 win in September.
City had claims for a penalty turned down when Toure's low cross was put behind for a corner seemingly off the arm of Campbell as the visitors started to get into the game, thanks largely to Adebayor's introduction.
Mancini was forced to make a third substitution due to Given's injury, with Faroe Islands keeper Gunnar Nielsen coming for his City debut.
The game started to become stretched but Arsenal failed to test Nielsen with Van Persie curling a free-kick inches wide, with substitute Nicklas Bendtner later firing straight at the City reserve keeper.
There was eight minutes of injury time but by that stage City seemed content to settle for the point, keeping alive their Champions League hopes, as the visitors packed men behind the ball.
And Arsenal's attempts to break them down seemed almost half hearted as the realisation of another trophy-less season finally hit home.
Arsenal
* 21 Fabianski
* 03 Sagna
* 18 Silvestre yellow card
* 22 Clichy
* 31 Campbell
* 02 Diaby yellow card
* 07 Rosicky (Eboue 68)
* 08 Nasri
* 14 Walcott (Bendtner 68)
* 17 Song Billong yellow card
* 11 Van Persie yellow card
Substitutes
* 24 Mannone,
* 27 Eboue,
* 30 Traore,
* 37 Eastmond,
* 09 Eduardo,
* 12 Vela,
* 52 Bendtner
Man City
* 01 Given (Nielsen 73)
* 03 Bridge (Richards 27)
* 05 Zabaleta yellow card
* 28 Toure
* 33 Kompany
* 11 A Johnson
* 18 Barry
* 24 Vieira (Adebayor 52)
* 34 De Jong
* 32 Tevez
* 39 Bellamy yellow card
Substitutes
* 37 Nielsen,
* 02 Richards,
* 04 Onuoha,
* 07 Ireland,
* 08 Wright-Phillips,
* 14 Santa Cruz,
* 25 Adebayor
Ref: Dean
Att: 60,086
www.bbc.co.uk
|
|
Robin van Persie says his five months of rehabilitation will benefit him in the long run.
The striker ruptured his ankle ligaments in November, the latest of a series of bad injuries that have blighted his career at Arsenal, but made an instant impact when he came on during his team's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Wednesday.
'The amount of hard work I put in (during my rehabilitation) was incredible,' said Van Persie, who incorporated gym work, swimming and sprinting into his daily routine.
'I would start at 10am and get home at 8.30pm. Sometimes I was so tired I could not even drive.
'So I had no fear about how I would feel or about my shape when I would make my comeback.
'I just know that if my body is in good shape, I don't have to worry about a thing on the pitch.
'That's why I had the confidence to turn it all on immediately from the first minute I came on.'
www.dailymail.co.uk
|
|
Arsène Wenger insists Robin Van Persie's injury problems are not the striker's fault.
The Dutchman returned from a five-month lay-off in Wednesday's North London derby at White Hart Lane.
The 26-year-old has been restricted to just 136 starts in his six seasons at Arsenal, compared with 235 made by Cesc Fabregas in the same amount of time.
That's because Van Persie has suffered from toe, ankle and knee injuries over recent seasons. However, manager Wenger has defended his striker, claiming the injuries have not been down to him.
"It is disappointing but what can you do," said Wenger. "You live first from the quality of the player.
"If you say to me do you want to keep Robin Van Persie? I say I want absolutely to keep him, hoping that next year he will have no injury.
"It is not his fault that he has been injured, he is a serious player. He doesn't go to discos, he lives seriously and he has been tackled against Italy and has been injured."
www.arsenal.com
|
|
A late Wigan comeback has all but ended Arsenal's title bid and also virtually secured their top-flight status.
Theo Walcott's neat finish gave Arsenal the lead, which they doubled via Mikael Silvestre's header from a corner.
Three goals in 10 minutes turned the game in Wigan's favour late on, with Ben Watson side-footing in the first.
A mistake from Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski allowed Titus Bramble to head Wigan level and then, deep into injury time Charles N'Zogbia's strike won it.
It was a stunning end to a game that Arsenal had seemed certain to win and in the process keep alive a title bid that was reawakened by Chelsea's 2-1 defeat at Spurs on Saturday.
That result will have altered the pessimistic admission of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger after his side's own 2-1 loss at White Hart Lane on Wednesday that their challenge was over.
He must now revert back to his initial prognosis that Arsenal are destined to finish trophyless for the fifth season in a row.
Wigan are very much in a race of their own at the bottom end of the table and cannot breathe easily just yet but this victory goes a long way to securing them a sixth successive season in the Premier League.
The Latics now have a seven-point cushion over 18th-placed Hull with three games to play.
Whilst taking nothing away from Wigan, a large portion of the blame must go to an admittedly weakened Arsenal defence, which had already demonstrated its fragility earlier in the game and capitulated during a remarkable last 10 minutes.
Watson's 80th-minute side-foot finish from a Hugo Rodallega pull-back was greeted with cheers of hope more than expectation from the home crowd.
However, this quickly became belief that three points were these for the taking when Fabianski - filling in for injured first-choice keeper Manuel Almunia - fumbled a corner and allowed Bramble to head home the equaliser in the 89th minute.
With momentum fully behind them, the Latics took full advantage of their shell-shocked opponents when, four minutes into injury time, N'Zogbia unleashed a superb, curling shot from the edge of the area into the top corner of the net fro the killer blow.
The Gunners had been far from their best in the 80 minutes prior to Watson's first for Wigan but appeared to be on course to move within three points of Chelsea courtesy of a brace of goals in a 10-minute spell either side of half time.
Walcott's opener - a neat finish after he had been put through on goal by Nicklas Bendtner's pass - was reward for the way Arsenal had grown into the game throughout the first half following a nervous start, no doubt partly due to the absence of key defensive figures.
Fabianski looked uncertain as he tentatively edged forward but failed to claim a Watson corner, which flashed across goal just ahead of the lunging Mario Melchiot early on.
Minutes later, the Gunners defence - missing both first-choice centre-backs William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen, gifted possession to N'Zogbia but his shot from the edge of the area bobbled tamely wide.
The first goal was well timed - coming just before the break - and the second even more so as Arsenal quashed any momentum the home side may have had from their half time team-talk.
Silvestre was given far too much room on the penalty spot to rise and head home Nasri's corner into the far corner of the net which, judging by his scrambled attempt to get across to clear, Watson had neglected his duty to cover.
Arsenal celebrated the goal like the game-winner it appeared to be, little aware of the late drama still to come.
Wigan
* 01 Kirkland
* 02 Gohouri
* 19 Bramble yellow card
* 25 Melchiot
* 31 Figueroa
* 08 Watson (Scharner 90+2)
* 14 N'Zogbia
* 24 McCarthy
* 27 Diame yellow card
* 18 Moreno (Moses 62)
* 20 Rodallega
Substitutes
* 29 Stojkovic,
* 07 Scharner,
* 17 Boyce,
* 11 Moses,
* 15 Gomez,
* 16 Sinclair,
* 09 Scotland
Arsenal
* 21 Fabianski
* 03 Sagna
* 18 Silvestre
* 22 Clichy
* 31 Campbell
* 37 Eastmond (Van Persie 90)
* 02 Diaby
* 07 Rosicky (Merida 81)
* 08 Nasri yellow card
* 14 Walcott (Eboue 81)
* 52 Bendtner
Substitutes
* 24 Mannone,
* 27 Eboue,
* 30 Traore,
* 32 Merida,
* 43 Henderson,
* 11 Van Persie,
* 12 Vela
Ref: Lee Mason
Att: 22,113
www.bbc.co.uk
|
|
A frustrated Robin Van Persie has hailed the ‘crazy' saves made by Heurelho Gomes at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night.
In the 68th minute of a crucial North London derby, Arsène Wenger introduced the Dutch striker for his first game in five months. It was a gamble but, trailing 2-0, there was little option.
Van Persie made an immediate impact. In the 79th minute he chested down Abou Diaby's chip and volley goalwards. Four minutes later he curled a fierce free-kick towards the top corner. Each time Gomes gymnastically turned the ball past the post.
With the pressure building and time ticking away, the 26-year-old felt those moments prevented Arsenal salvaging something from the game and keeping their title bid alive.
"Yes, especially the first one," he told Arsenal.com. "I expected that to go in but somehow he saved it which is crazy. The free-kick was going straight into the top corner and he saved that aswell. Those were big moments.
"It is a thin line between winning and losing. We had some good chances, they had some too. I felt we deserved maybe a draw from tonight. If you look at the second half we had a number of good chances and their keeper made a couple of unbelievable saves."
Like Wenger and the rest of the football fraternity, Van Persie feels the result has all but ended Arsenal's title bid. He said: "I don't think Chelsea will drop more than six points now."
But he does argue that pushing the top two into the final few weeks of the campaign shows improvement and achievement.
"Definitely, if you look at last year," he said. "No one really expected this. But when you are this close you really want to win it. When you don't do that it is frustrating.
"It felt good and I am happy to be back. But when you are there and your team is behind you want to do something to help them.
"Unfortunately I could not do that this evening."
www.arsenal.com
|
|
Arsenal's manager Arsene Wener gave a reaction on Robin van Persie's performance against the Spurs. "He has not kicked a ball for five months in a football team. You could see straight away when he came on that he could give us something different and something special. The bad luck we have this year is that we go into the final sprint of the season with many good players out. You could see tonight that it is too much."
www.arsenal.com
|
|
Tottenham all but ended Arsenal's hopes of winning the Premier League with a win which boosted their own chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Spurs' Premier League debutant Danny Rose hit a thunderous 30-yard volley past Manuel Almunia after 10 minutes.
Gareth Bale tapped in Spurs' second from six yards after Jermain Defoe's pass, only a minute after half-time.
Heurelho Gomes made three stunning saves to keep out Arsenal before Nicklas Bendtner pulled a goal back.
But it was not enough to prevent Tottenham recording their first league win over their arch rivals since November 1999 - a run of 20 games.
Both Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp admitted prior to the match that anything other than victory would end their hopes of achieving their respective targets this season.
For the Gunners that aim was winning the Premier League title, which now appears an unlikely outcome given that league leaders Chelsea are six points clear of Arsenal with four games to play.
For Spurs, however, fourth place in the Premier League and qualification for the Champions League remains a realistic aim with Redknapp's side one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
Both sides went into the north London derby viewing it as the perfect opportunity to put elimination from knockout competitions behind them.
Spurs had suffered a 2-0 defeat by Portsmouth in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday, while Arsenal's last game was a 4-1 loss to Barcelona at the Nou Camp which ended their Champions League campaign.
But it was Tottenham, without the benefit of an eight-day break, who played with more desire.
Redknapp sprung a surprise in his starting line-up, throwing Rose into the fray - and that decision was to reap dividends after 10 minutes.
Almunia punched away a corner but 30-yards out Rose was lurking and the 19-year-old unleashed an instinctive left-foot volley beyond the Arsenal keeper for one of the goals of the season.
Tottenham have only conceded 10 league goals at home this season, fewer than any other club in the division.
And Arsenal, unbeaten in their last eight league games, found the home side's back line tough to break down, struggling to create clear-cut opportunities despite dominating possession.
It was Spurs who started to ask questions of Arsenal's unconvincing defence, by now weakened after Thomas Vermaelen limped off with a calf injury to be replaced by Mikael Silvestre.
Almunia thwarted Luka Modric bravely before Defoe's snap-shot slammed into the body of the Spanish goalkeeper as Spurs pressed for a second goal.
And only one minute into the second half Spurs stunned Wenger's title-chasing side.
Defoe rode two challenges before splitting the Gunners' defence with a diagonal ball to the edge of the six-yard box where Bale, being played onside by Bacary Sagna, stroked the ball home with ease.
Shell-shocked Arsenal eventually regained their composure and tried to pick a hole in the Spurs back line but clear-cut opportunities were in short supply.
With the Spurs centre-back pairing of Ledley King and Michael Dawson proving almost impossible to break down, Wenger threw on Robin van Persie for his first game since rupturing ankle ligaments five months ago.
And the Dutchman made an impressive impact, forcing a stunning save from Gomes as the Gunners manically searched for a goal.
Van Persie took the ball on his chest on the penalty spot and swivelled quickly to crash a volley towards goal but Gomes instinctively palmed the effort over the bar.
And the Brazilian denied Van Persie for the second time in two minutes when he got his outstretched hand to the striker's vicious curling free-kick to turn it around the post.
The keeper completed a hat-trick of superb saves when he tipped Sol Campbell's header on to the crossbar.
However, tired legs which had defended manfully for Spurs finally faltered as Arsenal pulled back a goal to set up a tense finale.
Theo Walcott's low cross was met by Bendtner, who stabbed home from three yards.
But despite unrelenting Arsenal pressure in the four minutes of added time at White Hart Lane, Spurs held out for an impressive victory.
Tottenham
* 01 Gomes
* 03 Bale
* 04 Kaboul yellow card
* 20 Dawson yellow card
* 26 King
* 32 Assou-Ekotto
* 06 Huddlestone
* 14 Modric yellow card
* 25 Rose (Bentley 46)
* 09 Pavlyuchenko (Crouch 88)
* 18 Defoe (Gudjohnsen 67)
Substitutes
* 27 Alnwick,
* 19 Bassong,
* 28 Walker,
* 05 Bentley,
* 29 Livermore,
* 15 Crouch,
* 17 Gudjohnsen
Arsenal
* 01 Almunia
* 03 Sagna (Walcott 52)
* 05 Vermaelen (Silvestre 20)
* 22 Clichy
* 27 Eboue
* 31 Campbell
* 02 Diaby
* 07 Rosicky
* 08 Nasri
* 15 Denilson yellow card (Van Persie 68)
* 52 Bendtner
Substitutes
* 21 Fabianski,
* 18 Silvestre,
* 37 Eastmond,
* 14 Walcott,
* 32 Merida,
* 09 Eduardo,
* 11 Van Persie
Goals: Rose 1-0 '10, Bale 2-0 '47, Bendtner 2-1 '85
Ref: Clattenburg
Att: 36,041
www.bbc.co.uk
|
|
|
|
