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Arsenal comfortably overcame Porto to get their home campaign in Champions League Group G off to a perfect start.
Cristian Rodriguez's header hit the bar and Lisandro's shot was cleared off the line as Arsenal were lucky early on.
But Robin van Persie slid in to convert Emmanuel Adebayor's cross to open the scoring and the Dutchman's corner was headed in by Adebayor to make it 2-0.
Van Persie toe-poked his second on 48 minutes before Adebayor's penalty after a foul on Nicklas Bendtner sealed it.
Arsenal could even afford to miss a host of chances - unlike at the weekend in a shock defeat by Hull - as they cantered to a vital three points.
Following that loss at the weekend, manager Arsene Wenger had vowed to ring the changes but instead he made only one, bringing in Samir Nasri for Emmanuel Eboue.
However, it was soon evident that while the Gunners' personnel was virtually unchanged, their attitude from the weekend could not have been more different.
On eight minutes Nasri nudged the ball out to Theo Walcott, whose shot from a tight angle was beaten away at the near post.
That was an indication of what was to come from the England winger, who gave a performance of pace, trickery and confidence.
And in midfield, Cesc Fabregas was afforded space and time to pick his passes - and Van Persie almost opened the scoring from one threaded ball from the Spaniard but his curling shot was well saved.
Yet if all was working smoothly in attack, Porto soon exposed Arsenal at the back and Rodriguez's downward diving header bounced up onto the top of the bar.
Soon after, the visitors came even closer to taking the lead when Arsenal failed to clear a corner and Lisandro's shot from six yards was scrambled off the line by Gael Clichy.
Fortunately for Arsenal, Van Persie soothed any home nerves when he struck on 31 minutes following a superb Fabregas pass that picked out Adebayor to supply a cross that made it easy for the Dutchman.
Ten minutes later, Arsenal doubled their lead when Van Persie turned provider, planting a corner on to the head of Adebayor, who headed the ball down and in off the underside of the bar.
Soon after the restart Porto threw away any hopes they had of clawing their way back into the game when a defensive mix-up handed Van Persie the chance to clinically finish from just inside the box.
After that it was all Arsenal and a question of how many goals they would score - or how many opportunities they would miss.
Walcott was first up to scuff from six yards - which provoked a smile from watching England boss Fabio Capello - and then Nasri did the same.
Fabregas then saw a shot spilled and Adebyaor could not convert the follow-up.
But Arsenal were to get a fourth when Bendtner was felled in the area and Adebayor confidently stroked home the spot-kick.
The giant striker should have had a hat-trick but scuffed a shot wide late on, but by then it was all academic.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott (Vela 71), Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri (Eboue 64), Van Persie (Bendtner 64), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Silvestre, Djourou.
Booked: Clichy.
Goals: Van Persie 31, Adebayor 40, Van Persie 48, Adebayor 71 pen.
FC Porto: Helton, Sapunaru, Bruno Alves, Rolando, Benitez, Guarin, Costa, Fernando (Lucho Gonzalez 46), Raul Meireles (Hulk 64), Rodriguez (Candeias 79), Lopez.
Subs Not Used: Nuno, Pedro Emanuel, Stepanov, Lino.
Booked: Costa.
Att: 59,623
Ref: Herbert Fandel (Germany).
www.bbc.co.uk
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Two goals in four second-half minutes from Geovanni and Daniel Cousin earned Hull a famous away win over Arsenal.
The home side took the lead in the 47th minute when Cesc Fabregas's shot found the net via Paul McShane's legs.
But Hull hit back through Geovanni's brilliant 25-yard strike on 61 minutes before Cousin's well-placed glancing header from Andy Dawson's corner.
William Gallas clattered the crossbar in the 83rd minute before a brilliant late Boaz Myhill save denied Fabregas.
The final whistle was met by stunned silence from Arsenal's disbelieving fans, while the small contingent of travelling fans will return to East Yorkshire with the knowledge their team have climbed to sixth spot in the Premier League after their third - and most important - win of the season.
Hull boss Phil Brown made two changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Everton last week, with recalls for midfielders George Boateng and Geovanni, while Peter Halmosi and Bernard Mendy dropped to the bench.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made 11 changes from the youthful side that beat Sheffield United 6-0 in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.
With the guile of Fabregas in midfield, Arsenal ran their opponents ragged in the first 30 minutes, but for all their slick passing and interchanges, goal-scoring chances were conspicuous only by their absence.
Emmanuel Adebayor had the ball in the net - only for referee Alan Wiley to rule the goal out for a foul on McShane as the Togo striker climbed to reach a header on 15 minutes.
Hull left-back Dawson's brilliantly timed challenge brought Theo Walcott's menacing run to an end just as the winger was about to unleash a shot inside the 18-yard box.
For all their possession and creative intent, Arsenal were continually frustrated by the assistant referee's flag, which denied them on three occasions as they attempted to unlock a thoroughly obdurate and well-drilled Hull defence.
The closest they came to scoring was Emmanuel Eboue's deflected right-foot shot on the edge of the 18-yard box, while Michael Turner thwarted Adebayor with yet another well-timed challenge.
But Arsenal settled the nerves of the Emirates crowd when Walcott's cross diverted off the shin of Adebayor into the path of Fabregas, who bundled over as McShane desperately tried to prevent the ball from crossing the goal-line.
With the cushion of a one-goal lead, the Gunners began to run riot, with good goalscoring chances falling to Adebayor and Robin van Persie.
But Hull regained parity with a sensational strike from Geovanni, who skipped past a challenge on the left before drifting infield and smashing a right-foot shot that thundered into the top left-hand corner of Manuel Almunia's net.
It was the Brazilian's second goal for Hull since joining in the summer from Manchester City.
And Cousin put the visitors in front when he rose above Arsenal's defenders to majestically head Dawson's corner into the top right-hand corner of the net.
With 25 minutes left to rescue a point, Arsene Wenger switched to an attacking 4-2-4 formation, with Nicklas Bendtner replacing Eboue and Carlos Vela on for Walcott.
The changes nearly had their desired effect on 80 minutes, but Van Persie's strike just evaded Myhill's right-hand post.
Gallas clattered the crossbar with a powerful header in the final five minutes, the rebound falling to Vela, but the Mexican could not direct the ball goalwards, much to the frustration of his team-mates.
With four minutes of injury time signalled, Myhill produced a brilliant save to parry Fabregas's powerful 20-yard strike to earn Hull their first ever victory against Arsenal.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Bendtner 69), Fabregas, Denilson, Walcott (Vela 77), Adebayor, Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Song Billong, Silvestre, Djourou.
Booked: Sagna, Gallas.
Goals: McShane 51 og.
Hull: Myhill, McShane, Zayatte, Turner, Dawson, Marney, Boateng (Garcia 76), Geovanni (Hughes 72), Ashbee, Cousin (Mendy 80), King.
Subs Not Used: Duke, Halmosi, Folan, Ricketts.
Booked: Ashbee.
Goals: Geovanni 62, Cousin 66.
Att: 60,037
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
www.bbc.co.uk
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Robin Van Persie will be offered a new contract aimed at keeping him at Arsenal for the next five years.
The Holland international has just two years left on his current deal and the Gunners are determined to seal his long-term future rather than leave him with just 12 months left on his deal at the end of the season. And it seems agreement is close.
Van Persie, 25, is advised by his father Bob and a lawyer and they have been negotiating with manager Arsene Wenger.
www.mirror.co.uk
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William Gallas salvaged a draw for Arsenal with a last-gasp goal in their Champions League opener at Dynamo Kiev.
Gallas poked in from point-blank range at the far post after a low cross from man-of-the-moment Theo Walcott.
The goal cancelled out a harsh penalty for Kiev when Bacary Sagna was punished for bringing down Ognjen Vukojevic and Ismael Bangoura slotted in.
Arsenal spurned a number of chances in the game and looked like they might pay the price before the equaliser.
Gallas's 88th minute effort also saved an embarrassing defeat for Arsenal who have consistently struggled on trips to the former Soviet Union.
Kiev had beaten the Gunners in 1998 and 2003 but have not won a Champions League game for four years, while they lost each of their six games in the competition last season.
And, even though Arsenal's record did little to inspire, the visitors started passing the ball about with confidence and purpose.
They worked an early chance when Walcott cut inside from the right flank and slid Van Persie through on goal.
The Dutch striker's angled effort was blocked by keeper Stanislav Bogush during an opening period where Kiev appeared to give their rivals too much respect.
The home side almost gifted the Gunners the lead when a Roman Eremenko backpass went straight to Adebayor.
He evaded two defenders as he ran through on goal only to curl a 15-yard shot disappointingly wide.
Although Kiev gradually improved, they got little change out of the visitors' defence as they lacked the creativeness to threaten a goal.
Arsenal did have the flair and created a number of chances but were missing a clinical edge.
Sagna pulled a low cross back to Van Persie at the near post and he could only find the side-netting with a powerful shot.
Fabregas was next to spurn a gilt-edged opportunity as he latched on to a Van Persie knock back and should have done better than to bounce a shot straight into the keeper's arms from eight yards.
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie (left) struggles to get away from Ayila Yussuf in his side's game against Dynamo Kiev
Arsenal's Van Persie (left) had chances to score before his side went behind
Kiev almost punished Arsenal's profligacy after the break when Eremenko's angled drive came back off the near post before Almunia gathered.
Arsenal were coming under more pressure and conceded a penalty which appeared more than generous in favour of Kiev.
Vukojevic seemed to be doing as much pulling and pushing as Sagna at the far post but it was the Gunners right-back who was penalised.
Bangoura nonchalantly rolled in the penalty to his right as he sent Manuel Almunia the wrong way.
The already fervent crowd were sparked into a greater frenzy as they urged on their side.
A now-inspired Kiev rode the wave of noise at the 17,000 capacity Valeriy Lobanovskyi stadium and Bangoura shot into the side-netting against a rattled Arsenal.
But the visitors rescued a point when Gallas was on hand to equalise after Adebayor failed to get the telling touch to a Walcott cross.
Dynamo Kiev: Bogush, Betao, Diakhate, Mykhalyk, Nesmachniy, Vukojevic, Yussuf (Asatiani 90), Yeremenko, Aliev, Ninkovic, Bangoura (Kravets 90).
Subs Not Used: Shovkovskiy, Ghioane, Morozyuk, Shatskikh, Olexander Romanchuk.
Booked: Nesmachniy, Bangoura, Vukojevic, Diakhate.
Goals: Bangoura 64 pen.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna (Eboue 78), Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Song Billong (Bendtner 70), Denilson, Van Persie (Vela 83), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Wilshere, Djourou.
Booked: Sagna.
Goals: Gallas 88.
Att: 20,000
Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).
www.bbc.co.uk
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Arsenal forward Robin Van Persie has defended his manager Arsene Wenger's spending policy and insisted no amount of money could ever lure him to Manchester City.
The Dutch international, 25, echoed the sentiments of many by revealing his surprise at Robinho's deadline day transfer from Real Madrid to the City of Manchester Stadium.
He said: "I was really surprised when they came in for Robinho. I thought: 'What's happening? Manchester City and £30 million?'"
However, Van Persie has reservations over how the new City owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group, plan to spend by any means necessary to recruit the world's best players, doubting the longevity of their short-term plans.
"I'm really curious if Manchester City have a plan because it won't work by only buying the most expensive players. It's about a team. If all the pieces don't click the system won't work.
"In, principle, Manchester City could have success but there has to be a philosophy with a whole staff who have a plan for the next four or five years," he said adding City should not waste their time attempting to buy him.
Happy with life at The Emirates, the striker, speaking in The Sun this morning, believes that Arsene Wenger's stance towards incoming transfers is the most sensible, despite concerns over how Arsenal's relatively small squad (in comparison to that of Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea) will cope this season.
"It's difficult in this overinflated market," said Van Persie. "The manager wanted to use a certain amount but not the full £30m.
"But he has a principle and if he believes a player is worth £10m then he'll only pay that amount.
"We have a small squad but achieving a mental hardness and avoiding injuries can make a difference," he added.
www.telegraph.co.uk
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If we look at our statistics, Robin played his 200th club match today. This is a big milestone and we want to congratulate Robin with this match.
For Feyenoord we count the Champions League, Uefa Cup, Eredivisie and KNVB Beker. For Arsenal the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Carling Cup and Community Shield.
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Emmanuel Adebayor scored a hat-trick as Arsenal strolled to a comfortable victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park.
The Togo striker benefited from a fine Gunners passing display, aided by an impressive showing from Theo Walcott, who set up Robin van Persie's opener.
Roque Santa Cruz was wayward with the hosts' best chances before Adebayor headed in Denilson's cross unmarked.
He made it three from the spot after Emmanuel Eboue had been felled, and rounded the keeper to wrap up the win.
Despite Rovers' endeavour, it was a scoreline that did little to flatter the Gunners, who now have three wins from their first four games.
And while the defeat will do little to enhance Blackburn boss Paul Ince's profile as he continues to be linked with the vacant manager's position at Newcastle, the signs were there again at Ewood Park that England hero Walcott is finally starting to realise his huge potential.
The winger dazzled against Croatia with a hat-trick in midweek, and he was quick to replicate that form on eight minutes, drifting in from the left, beating three players, and then slipping a pinpoint pass to Van Persie, who took a touch and clipped home.
Soon after Walcott should have scored himself, but a three-on-one break from the visitors ended with the 19-year-old curling high and wide with just keeper Paul Robinson to beat.
Walcott was again involved on the half hour in a fine Gunners move that Van Persie should have done better to finish, the Dutchman firing into the side netting when free in the box.
It was a passing display so typical of Arsene Wenger's side, and it was no surprise when Adebayor made it two on the stroke of half time, the Togo international heading home unmarked from Denilson's cross.
However, as fluent as the visitors were in attack, they were almost as vulnerable at the back early on and Santa Cruz twice could have drawn Rovers level before Adebayor's first goal.
First the Paraguayan blazed over from 12 yards with Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia stranded, and then he headed over a brilliant Brett Emerton cross.
Emerton was at the heart of most of Blackburn's best attacking play, and the Australian carved out another chance when he beat Gael Clichy on the right, only for his cross to just evade Keith Andrews' driving run.
Still, the hosts were fortunate to keep the score down to two as Arsenal burst out of the blocks in the second half, with Walcott again centre stage as Rovers struggled to cope.
Robinson had to be at his sharpest to beat away a firm drive from the youngster, and the keeper then pulled off a superb double save in the space of a minute, beating away Eboue's drive after denying Kolo Toure from six yards out following a corner.
With Arsenal cruising, Wenger took the opportunity to remove Walcott and rest him ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie in Dynamo Kiev.
Blackburn probed away without creating a clear-cut chance but Arsenal always looked a threat on the break - and so it proved on 80 minutes when Eboue's run was brought to an end by Stephen Warnock's sliding tackle in the box.
Replays suggested the midfielder had gone over Warnock's challenge rather theatrically, but Adebayor showed no mercy as he side-footed home the spot-kick with aplomb.
There was still time for the Togo frontman to complete his hat-trick, Adebayor dashing onto debutant Aaron Ramsey's through ball and rounding the keeper before poking home.
Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Nelsen, Samba, Simpson (Derbyshire 73), Warnock, Reid, Emerton, Pedersen (Treacy 69), Andrews, Roberts (McCarthy 69), Santa Cruz.
Subs not used: Brown, Mokoena, Tugay, Villanueva.
Booked: Warnock
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Touré, Gallas, Clichy, Eboué (Ramsey 82), Denilson, Fabregas, Walcott (Song 64), Van Persie (Wilshere 84), Adebayor.
Subs not used: Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Bendtner.
Booked: Denilson.
Goals: Van Persie 8, Adebayor 45, 81 (pen), 90.
Att: 23.041.
Ref: Dean.
www.bbc.co.uk
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Holland got their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start by securing a 2-1 victory away to FYR Macedonia.
The hosts were still buzzing from their 1-0 win over Scotland on Saturday and the game remained goalless at half-time.
But Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart before new Real Madrid signing Rafael van der Vaart gave the Oranje a two-goal cushion in the 59th minute.
Goran Pandev set up a nervy finish for the Dutch by pulling one back with a 77th-minute penalty.
The visitors hung on, though, to hand coach Bert van Marwijk victory in his first competitive match in charge.
The two teams are now level with Scotland at the top of Group Nine after the Scots held on for a 2-1 win in Iceland.
Macedonia: Milosevski, Sedloski, Mitreski, Noveski, Lazarevski (Petrov 58), Georgievski, Sumulikoski, Trajanov (Ristic 83), Maznov (Tasevski 62), Pandev, Naumovski.
Subs not used: Unknown.
Booked: Naumovski, Ristic.
Goals: Pandev 78 pen.
Netherlands: Stekelenburg, Heitinga, Ooijer (Boulahrouz 28), Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Van Bommel, De Jong, Van Persie (Kuijt 70), Van der Vaart, Robben (Afellay 82), Huntelaar.
Subs not used: De Cler, De Zeeuw, Babel, Vennegoor.
Booked: Van Persie, Van der Vaart, Huntelaar.
Goals: Heitinga 46, Van der Vaart 60.
Att: 15.000
Ref: Gilewski.
www.skysports.com
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Robin van Persie believes that he and his teammates have to work hard Wednesday against Macedonia. "I think that mentality is very important in the current football world. I want to bring mentally the best."
"It's not difficult to focus on the match against Macedonia. If you look at the matches in Europe last weekend, you need to be careful. Real and Barca lost their matches, Chelsea and Liverpool both had a draw. And in Holland, Feyenoord and Ajax lost. There are no little teams anymore. Every match is important."
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Australia came from behind to beat Holland 2-1 in an international friendly on Saturday night.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar put Holland ahead after just six minutes but Australia battled back to claim a famous scalp.
Harry Kewell, who left Liverpool for Galatasaray over the summer, equalised on the stroke of half-time.
Joshua Kennedy then struck again for Australia in the 76th minute and the Dutch could not respond.
Holland have been drawn in European World Cup qualifying Group 9 and they start their campaign against Macedonia on Wednesday.
Netherlands: Stekelenburg, Heitinga, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Van Bommel, De Jong, Van Persie (Kuijt 46), Van der Vaart (Afellay 71), Babel (Vennegoor 83), Huntelaar (Timmer 45).
Subs not used: Boulahrouz, De Cler, De Zeeuw, Robben
Sent off: Stekelenburg 45
Goals: Huntelaar 6.
Australia: Schwarzer, Wilkshire, Coyne (Beauchamp 71), Neill, Carney, Emerton (Sterjovski 46), Culina (Burns 78), Holman (Djiti 71), Valeri, Kennedy (Garcia 78), Kewell (Bresciano 46).
Subs not used: Unknown
Goals: Kewell 45 pen, Kennedy 76.
Att: 25.000
Ref: Atkinson.
www.skysports.com
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| Robin van Persie is fit for tomorrow's match against Australia. Robin picked up a minor injury at the last training and went with the physio to the dressing room. He told Dutch manager Bert van Marwijk later today that the injury was not serious and that he's fit.
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Arsenal forward Robin van Persie had some problems with current Holland boss Bert van Marwijk when they were working together at Feyenoord, but that's all sorted now.
Arsenal attacker Robin van Persie came through the ranks of the Feyenoord academy during the Van Marwijk regime and his rebellious character caused some problem between them during that period.
However, everything is now fine between the two, according to the forward. “That’s something of the past,” said the Arsenal star to Algemeen Dagblad. “The coach wants to perform well with Holland and so do I.
“I can’t judge his style of work as Holland manager yet, because he's only just started. However, the feeling is good and I’m looking forward to being successful with Oranje.”
Van Marwijk blamed a lack of professionalism in Van Persie in his younger years, but working with the trainer again is not a problem for the Holland international. He said: “Absolutely not; I’m a lot more mature now.”
“We didn’t even discuss this topic, it’s simply not relevant. We both have the same target - being successful with The Netherlands - and are both adults.”
www.goal.com
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Arsenal striker Robin van Persie sat out of Holland's training on Wednesday morning in Noordwijk.
Van Persie was forced to be replaced in the second half of the Gunners' 3-0 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday after he picked up an ankle injury.
The forward, who scored a brace against the Magpies, underwent a scan after sustaining the problem and was given the green light to travel to Holland to train with Bert van Marwijk's side.
Van Persie featured in training with his team-mates on Tuesday but was not risked the day after due to a slight foot injury.
It is reported the decision was precautionary and Van Persie should be available for Saturday's friendly against Australia. Holland has two training sessions today. He will feature in the second training later this day.
Ibrahim Afellay and Khalid Boulahrouz (both ankle) also missed Wednesday's training session for Holland.
www.skysports.com
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