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Arsenal's up and down season is in the ascendancy again after Robin van Persie struck twice in three second-half minutes to stun Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Johan Djourou turned Jose Bosingwa's cross into his own net after 31 minutes to give Chelsea the lead as Arsenal's title challenge looked to be in danger of suffering a potentially fatal blow.
And then, with Chelsea the dominant force, Van Persie delivered two crucial blows to earn Arsene Wenger's side a priceless victory.
He looked well offside when he drilled home the equaliser after 59 minutes, then was on target again on the turn to complete a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
Arsenal are turning into the Premier League's great enigmas, responding with victories against Manchester United and now Chelsea just when they were being written off as serious title contenders.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are suffering at the place that was once their greatest strength - Stamford Bridge.
After four years of impregnability at home, Chelsea have now lost to Liverpool and Arsenal this season and have won only three out of eight league games at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal knew they could not afford to slip up if they were to maintain a serious title challenge, and they started with real attacking intent.
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech was in action in the 13th minute, plunging to save from Samir Nasri's low shot, with William Gallas - taunted mercilessly by the home fans - just failing to apply a crucial touch from the rebound.
Cesc Fabregas then tested Cech again before Chelsea demonstrated their threat, with a slick exchange between Frank Lampard and Deco almost creating an opening for Nicolas Anelka.
Arsenal's early promise was then undermined when they conceded the sloppiest of goals just after the half hour.
Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia gifted Chelsea possession with a wayward throw, and when Bosingwa drove in a dangerous low cross from the right, Djourou could only slide the ball into his own goal at the near post.
In contrast to his strike partner Adebayor, Van Persie had been industrious and he tested Cech with a shot on the turn as Arsenal looked to fashion a quick response to Chelsea's goal.
Arsenal's carelessness at the back almost allowed Lampard to double Chelsea's advantage six minutes after the break, the England midfield man failing to make a proper connection with an opening on the edge of the box.
Wenger's side needed a lifeline from somewhere, and they were thrown one by the officials as they equalised in dubious circumstances just before the hour.
Van Persie looked well offside as he was found inside the area by Denilson's pass, and as Chelsea waited for a flag that never came the Dutch striker flashed an emphatic finish high past Cech.
And a remarkable turnaround was complete three minutes later when Van Persie struck against to put Arsenal in front.
Adebayor rose to head down Fabregas' free-kick, and Van Persie produced a stunning low finish to beat Cech again.
Chelsea, inevitably, pressed but Arsenal looked just as likely to add a third, with Cech saving well from Denilson deep in injury time.
Arsenal boss Wenger celebrated with his staff at the final whistle, an indication of just how important he feels this victory can be.
Chelsea's fans, in contrast, greeted the final whistle with jeers.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, A Cole, Mikel (Malouda 69), Deco (Stoch 81), Ballack, Lampard, Kalou, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Bridge, Ferreira, Mineiro, Alex.
Booked: Terry, Ivanovic.
Goals: Djourou 31 og.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Djourou, Clichy, Denilson, Fabregas, Song Billong, Nasri, Adebayor (Bendtner 83), Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Vela, Ramsey, Silvestre, Wilshere, Gibbs.
Goals: Van Persie 59, 62.
Att: 41,760.
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).
www.bbc.co.uk
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The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has an election poll on their site to vote for the best National team player of 2008. Robin won the competition last year and it would be nice if he also wins it this year. Robin is number 3 now with 12,7 % of the votes. We as fans can change that till January 4 2009. It's a Dutch site but you only have to click on his name. Vote!
You can vote here.
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Arsenal won yesterday with 1-0 from Dynamo Kiev but Dutch striker Robin van Persie thought it was not a great match. "We didn't play well," said Van Persie. "But the most important thing is that we won the match and got the three points, specially if you look at the last few games. They played very defensively but we knew that before the start of the match."
The striker had some big chances but he didn't score. "The finish is not good, but I think the goals will come." Van Persie thought that the yellow card was not the right decision for his foul. "I think we both went for the ball. It was a tough match, but in the Premier League the referee let it go. The rules in Europe are different."
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Nicklas Bendtner's late strike eased Arsenal's troubles and sent them into the Champions League knockout phase.
Bendtner struck three minutes from time from new captain Cesc Fabregas's pass.
Olexandr Aliyev was sent off seconds later as Dynamo Kiev protested that Fabregas had reacted to a drop ball before they were ready.
Ismael Bangoura hit the post for Dynamo in the first half and Manuel Almunia saved from Artem Milevskiy, but Arsenal were also wasteful in front of goal.
William Gallas returned to the Arsenal side after being stripped of the captaincy for publicly criticising his team-mates, and he was always in the action in a game which was closely fought throughout.
Arsenal missed the pace of Theo Walcott and the power of Emmanuel Adebayor but battled manfully, and Bendtner's goal was a deserved reward and will act as a real morale-booster for Arsene Wenger's side.
Gallas was warmly received by Arsenal fans after his recent trauma - and he had an eventful return to first-team action.
Arsenal threatened the early breakthrough, with Robin van Persie seeing an in-swinging free-kick pushed away by Dynamo keeper Stanislav Bogush.
Aaron Ramsey then fired off target after Carlos Vela's cross evaded defenders and goalkeeper to reach the Wales youngster at the far post.
Gallas then almost compounded his recent problems by gifting Dynamo a goal after 37 minutes when his weak attempted back pass was pounced on by Bangoura, but the striker was selfish and shot against the outside of the post with team-mates waiting for the pass.
Mikael Silvestre then turned Van Persie's goal-bound free-kick over the top before Gallas was involved in another potentially pivotal moment on the stroke of half-time.
He turned the ball in from close range after Dynamo failed to clear Fabregas' corner, but the strike was ruled out for offside.
Gallas was again at the centre of the action three minutes after the break when he unwittingly blocked Van Persie's shot on the goal-line as Arsenal looked poised to make the breakthrough.
Arsenal boss Wenger made changes as he attempted to break down Dynamo's stubborn resistance, with Ramsey being replaced by Bendtner and 16-year-old Jack Wilshere coming on for Vela.
But it was Dynamo who almost snatched the crucial first goal with 12 minutes left, Arsenal keeper Almunia plunging at the feet of Milevskiy as he shot from just eight yards.
Van Persie then responded with a driven cross that flashed across the six-yard area with no-one able to apply the finishing touch.
Just as the game looked to be drawing towards a goalless conclusion, Fabregas sent a long pass to Bendtner from a drop ball and he controlled well and scored.
Dynamo felt Fabregas had employed sharp practice at the re-start, and Aliyev let frustration get the better of him as he was sent off for clashing with referee Alain Hamer.
Arsenal: Almunia, Djourou, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy, Denilson, Fabregas, Song Billong, Ramsey (Bendtner 68), Vela (Wilshere 77), Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Gibbs, Hoyte, Merida, Simpson.
Booked: Van Persie, Bendtner.
Goals: Bendtner 87.
Dynamo Kiev: Bogush, Betao, Diakhate, Asatiani, El Kaddouri, Eremenko, Vukojevic, Ghioane, Aliev, Milevskiy, Bangoura.
Subs Not Used: Shovkovskiy, Dopilka, Sablic, Correa, Shatskikh, Cernat, Yarmolenko.
Sent Off: Aliev (89).
Booked: Milevskiy, Asatiani, Aliev.
Att: 59,374
Ref: Alain Hamer (Luxembourg).
www.bbc.co.uk
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Arsenal's turbulent week ended in more misery as Manchester City sent them to their fifth league defeat this season.
The Gunners appeared to be in freefall after skipper William Gallas was dropped for his midweek outburst.
Stephen Ireland clipped in City's first after Gael Clichy sliced a clearance, and Robinho doubled the lead when he superbly chipped Manuel Almunia.
Robinho had a shot cleared off the line before Daniel Sturridge scored with a penalty after he had been fouled.
Arsenal's build-up to the match was blighted by Gallas' public claims that the team lacks spirit and togetherness, while City had won only once in five league games.
Gallas paid a heavy price for his comments, but his absence at the heart of the defence also cost the Gunners as they imploded for City's opener.
When Ireland burst into the box he lost control of the ball but Clichy skewed his clearance back into the midfielder's path and he finished with style.
Until that point, neither defence had really been troubled as careless passes dominated the play.
Arsenal, also accused by Gallas of lacking bravery, sometimes looked rattled by City's physical challenges.
And without Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Emanuel Adebayor they also looked lightweight coming forward.
However, City created little themselves before an unexpected spell of pressure at the end of the opening 45 minutes saw them rewarded.
It was a different story for the hosts after the break, though, as they countered with pace and precision, particularly through Robinho.
The forward might have had a hat-trick on another day, but had to make do with one goal.
It came when he was put through by Shaun Wright-Phillips and he sprinted clear before lofting an exquisite chip over Alumina without even breaking stride.
Later, Robinho thought he had scored with a back heeled flick but the goal was disallowed for offside.
And after that he perhaps should have scored when he rounded Almunia but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Johan Djourou.
Robinho was substituted shortly after having injured himself as he tried to score, but Arsenal were to suffer no change of fortune following the removal of their chief tormentor.
They might have pulled a goal back but Nicklas Bendtner shot straight at keeper Joe Hart.
And Robin van Persie had a goal disallowed for unsporting behaviour - the Dutchman nicked the ball off Hart as the keeper tried to take a goal-kick.
Instead it was City who got the next goal.
Sturridge earned himself a spot-kick after he was fouled by Djourou and the substitute confidently dispatched the penalty to round off a fine win for City.
Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Kompany, Vassell (Elano 73), Robinho (Hamann 82), Mwaruwari (Sturridge 88).
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Evans, Ben-Haim.
Goals: Ireland 45, Robinho 56, Sturridge 90 pen.
Arsenal: Almunia, Hoyte (Ramsey 60), Djourou, Silvestre, Clichy, Nasri, Denilson, Song, Diaby (Vela 69), Van Persie, Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Wilshere, Gibbs, Lansbury, Simpson.
Booked: Song.
Att: 44,878
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
www.bbc.co.uk
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We've put some new photos from Holland's training camp in our gallery (Holland -> Training)
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Robin van Persie scored two goals against Sweden. The Dutch striker was happy to play after his suspension. "I didn't play for two weeks so it's fantastic to be involved in a match again."
About the match: "The manager said that I didn't have to play as a winger on the sidelines and that's why I could score two goals. I changed a lot from position with Wesley Sneijder . Even when I was up front, I saw that he took my man."
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Robin van Persie was the big star for Holland yesterday. "This was a serious match for us," said the Arsenal striker. "It gave us a good result. We did this as a team. It's not easy to play against Sweden but we found the right solutions for the problems that they gave us." Van Persie believes that Holland deserves a compliment for the match. "Sweden defended with 8 players but we managed it to show some good stuff."
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Holland proved far too strong for Sweden on Wednesday as they eased to a 3-1 victory.
Having begun their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign with maximum points from their three games so far, the Dutch appeared full of confidence.
It did, however, take Bert van Marwijk's side 32 minutes to break the deadlock, with Arsenal striker Robin van Persie firing them in front.
The Gunners ace was then among the goals once more four minutes after the interval, strengthening the home side's grip on proceedings.
Kim Kallstrom did pull one back just a minute later, but Liverpool front-man Dirk Kuyt settled the contest when he grabbed a third in injury-time.
Netherlands: Timmer (Vorm 46), Heitinga (Mendes da Silva 77), Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (De Cler 46), Van Bommel, De Zeeuw (Van der Vaart 46), Van Persie, Sneijder (Engelaar 74), Babel (Afellay 64), Kuijt. Subs Not Used: Boulahrouz.
Goals: Van Persie 32, 48 Kuijt 90.
Sweden: Isaksson, M. Nilsson, Hansson (Granqvist 80), Majstorovic, Safari (Stoor 46), Wilhelmsson (Rosenberg 46), D. Andersson (S. Larsson 46), Lindgren, Holmén (V. Elm 76), H. Larsson (Källström 46), M. Berg.
Subs Not Used: Unknown.
Booked: D. Andersson.
Goals: Källström 50.
Att: 26.750.
Ref: Szabo.
www.skysports.com
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| It's Shaqueel's second birthday today. We want to congratulate him, and of course also Robin and Bouchra, with his birthday.
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Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk on Friday announced the following 19-man squad for the friendly international match against Sweden on Wednesday Nov. 19 in Amsterdam.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Henk Timmer (Feyenoord), Michel Vorm (Utrecht).
Defenders: Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Atletico
Madrid), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn
Rovers), Dirk Marcellis (PSV Eindhoven), Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB
Stuttgart).
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Mark van
Bommel (Bayern Munich), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord),
Orlando Engelaar (Schalke 04), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg SV),
Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar),
Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal),
Ryan Babel (Liverpool).
www.reuters.com
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Unfortunately, we made a mistake in the message about Robin's suspension. He's not suspended for three Premier League matches but two Premier League and one Carling Cup match. The first match that he will play for Arsenal is on November 22 against Manchester City.
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Robin van Persie had to view the match between 'his' Arsenal and Manchester United from the stands. The striker is suspended for three games.
"It's tiresome to view from the stands. These guys wants to play football all the time. I have the same drive as them if I'm on the pitch. But sometimes you have to play the game defensive if there's only 5 minutes on the clock and you are 2-1 up against Manchester United. At the other hand, you can say something for this style," said Van Persie against Dutch channel Sport 1.
Arsenal is now the number three from the Premier League. "We're getting close," knows Van Persie. "Against clubs like Hull City and Stoke City, we lost unnecessary points so we have to accomplish something. I think we made a statement today. We are still one of the clubs who can get the title."
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Robin van Persie will be suspended for the next three Premier League matches:
Saturday November 8: Arsenal - Manchester United
Saturday November 15: Arsenal - Aston Villa
Saturday November 22: Manchester City - Arsenal
Robin can possibly play in the Carling Cup match at (11/11) and probably with the Dutch national team against Sweden (11/19). The first match after the suspension is against Dinamo Kiev.
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Arsenal were held at home by Fenerbahce after missing several early chances in their Champions League Group G clash.
The Gunners were dominant and went close when Robin van Persie prodded his shot wide from Cesc Fabregas's pass.
Van Persie saw another goalbound shot blocked before his fierce effort was tipped on to the bar by Volkan Demirel.
In the second half, Van Persie headed over when well placed but, although Arsenal enjoyed all the possession, they ran out of ideas before the end.
In contrast to their disappointing league results in recent weeks, Arsenal's European form has been impressive - particularly when they dismantled Fenerbahce to claim a thumping win in Turkey a fortnight ago.
So the chance to seal their progress to the knockout stages should have offered a welcome distraction from domestic matters but, instead, the build-up to this game was dominated by the fall-out of Saturday's defeat by Stoke, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger having to insist in a pre-match press conference that his side do not lack the stomach for a fight.
That issue was not a factor here as Fenerbahce did not adopt the same battling approach which served Stoke so well at the Britannia Stadium, although Roberto Carlos did launch a couple of long throws into the home penalty area.
But another criticism of Arsenal is that, for all their attractive passing football, they sometimes lack a cutting edge - and that was their prevalent problem here.
The Gunners were completely on top in the first half and Van Persie could easily have claimed a hat-trick had he shown more composure, and also been slightly luckier, in front of goal.
His first opportunity came when he ran on to Fabregas's chipped pass and beat Volkan to the ball but saw his first time shot drift inches wide.
Fabregas was also involved in Arsenal's next clear-cut chance when Volkan fumbled the Spaniard's shot into Van Persie's path but this time the Dutchman saw his shot blocked by Diego Lugano.
Van Persie, who also had a free-kick deflected the wrong side of the post by Roberto Carlos's header, went close again before the break when he met Kolo Toure's pass and turned inside the box before seeing Volkan touch his shot on to the bar.
Fenerbahce had managed little more than some harmless shots from range in response but they went in at the break level when the game should really have been over and the frustration among the home fans at the Emirates was evident.
The second half began with Ugur Boral forcing a save from Lukasz Fabianski after running clear but, after that, Arsenal continued to do all the pressing.
They were still having little joy in the final third, however, and if anything chances began to dry up.
Van Persie should have done much better when he rose unmarked to meet Gael Clichy's cross but for the most part Arsenal's attacks were now breaking down outside the visitors' penalty area.
And by now it was clear that this was not going to be the tonic that Wenger's side needed ahead of the visit of Manchester United on Saturday.
In fact the Gunners received another blow before the end when defender Mikael Silvestre came off with a suspected broken nose, joining an already lengthy injury list.
It was the travelling Fenerbahce fans making all the noise at the final whistle on a disappointing night for the Gunners.
They remain top of their group but Porto's win over Dynamo Kiev has brought them back into the qualification equation and Arsenal will need to beat the Ukrainian side here later this month to make sure of their progress.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Toure, Djourou, Silvestre (Song Billong 83), Clichy, Ramsey (Diaby 59), Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Bendtner (Vela 59), Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Mannone, Sagna, Wilshere, Gibbs.
Booked: Djourou, Van Persie.
Fenerbahce: Demirel, Gonul, Edu Dracena, Lugano, Roberto Carlos (Wederson 68), Maldonado (Josico 68), Sahin, Boral, Kazim-Richards (Bilgin 59), Senturk, Guiza.
Subs Not Used: Babacan, Yilmaz, Cakmak, Deivid.
Booked: Sahin, Lugano, Wederson.
Att: 60,003
Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)
www.bbc.co.uk
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes Robin van Persie should not have been sent off in the 2-1 defeat at Stoke, their third league loss of the season.
Van Persie saw red for a challenge on goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, but Wenger said: "It should have been a yellow.
"He should not have done it and he knows that but a red card was harsh."
www.bbc.co.uk
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Ricardo Fuller and Seyi Olofinjana both scored after long throw-ins by Rory Delap as Arsenal capitulated and also had Robin van Persie sent off.
Delap sent a throw to the far post and Fuller glanced in for the opener.
Delap, himself, then looped in a header that Gael Clichy cleared off the line before Olofinjana chested in Stoke's second from another Delap throw-in.
Van Persie saw red for shoving Thomas Sorensen before Clichy pulled a goal back with a deflected shot.
The defeat is another serious blow to Arsenal's title aspirations, while Stoke will be delighted with three points that take them a little further away from the drop zone.
There was nothing pretty - or surprising - in the way Stoke went about their business, but it proved effective.
An Arsenal side selected to cope with their opponents' physical presence struggled to handle Stoke strike pair Fuller and Mamady Sidibe.
And a combination of Delap's speciality throw-in and Fuller's strength cost Arsenal dear as the pair fashioned Stoke's winner.
Kolo Toure was dominated by Fuller, whose deft touch to Delap's delivery sent the ball past keeper Manuel Almunia.
Arsenal, lacking the guile and pace of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott - both on the bench - looked disjointed and bewildered.
And it could have been worse for the Gunners had Delap managed to get a little more power on a goalbound header that Clichy cleared.
A tame Emmanuel Adebayor shot that Sorensen comfortably gathered was the best Arsenal could muster.
The Gunners brought on Walcott on 57 minutes in the hope of adding some thrust to their play.
But with Cesc Fabregas a shadow of himself, one wondered where the England youngster's supply line would come from.
Instead it was the hosts who almost scored when another Delap throw caused mayhem and Salif Diao's volley from the edge of the area was superbly saved by Almunia.
It was a warning that Arsenal failed to heed, and from Delap's next throw-in, Ryan Shawcross nodded on and Olofinjana scrambled the ball over the line, nudging it forwards twice with his chest.
Worse was to come on a miserable day for the visitors when Van Persie, on the pitch for only 12 minutes, was dismissed after needlessly barging into Sorensen.
After a lengthy delay for an injury to Walcott, who was stretchered off, Clichy's effort from the edge of the box went in with the help of a couple of deflections.
But there was to be no great escape for Arsenal, and they would not have deserved one.
Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Amdy Faye, Olofinjana, Diao (Whelan 78), Delap, Fuller (Cresswell 86), Sidibe (Kitson 90).
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Soares, Wilkinson, Sonko.
Booked: Higginbotham, Sidibe, Delap, Cresswell.
Goals: Fuller 11, Olofinjana 73.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna (Walcott 57), Toure, Silvestre, Clichy, Denilson (Van Persie 65), Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Adebayor (Vela 72), Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Nasri, Ramsey, Djourou.
Sent Off: Van Persie (76).
Booked: Adebayor, Fabregas.
Goals: Clichy 90.
Att: 26,704
Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
www.bbc.co.uk
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