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A first-half penalty from Robin van Persie gave Arsenal a narrow lead going into the away leg of their Champions League last-16 clash against Roma.
Arsenal were the better team over the 90 minutes, taking a deserved lead when Van Persie was fouled by Philippe Mexes and then fired in low from the spot.
Fellow striker Nicklas Bendtner struck over from eight yards, while Emmanuel Eboue sent his shot inches wide.
Marco Motta went close for Roma but his 25-yarder was saved by Manuel Almunia.
Apart from that and a John Arne Riise shot that fizzed past the Arsenal upright, the team from Italy's capital did little to excite their band of supporters at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger's side dominated for large periods, created many chances and should have added a couple more to Van Persie's solitary effort. Nevertheless, it was a vast improvement on Arsenal displays of recent weeks.
The key to their success on the night came in the form of the trio in attack - Bendtner, Samir Nasri and Van Persie.
None of the three occupied the conventional positions up front which confused Roma's backline from the whistle.
Bendtner largely played on the left but that did not stop him from bulldozing into the area whenever he saw the defensive door left ajar.
His forays almost paid big dividends on a handful of occasions.
The lanky Dane's first effort suffered as a result of mis-control from Nasri's fine ball into the area, a good block inside the six-yard area then denied him a second bite before he smashed wildly over the bar from eight yards after the break.
One man who was more proficient in front of goal, when it mattered, was Van Persie.
The Dutchman's penalty strike came just before the interval, won when he was tripped by Mexes after being played into the area.
Van Persie's low, driven spot-kick gave Doni no hope in the Roma goal.
The second half opened in farcical fashion as Arsenal only had nine players on the pitch when Roma kicked off.
William Gallas was receiving treatment as the players were called out for the restart, but a superstitious Kolo Toure waited for his team-mate as he is always the last man to leave the dressing room.
Luckily it did not cost Arsenal, who had numerous chances to extend their lead in the second half.
Apart from Bendtner's wasted effort, Abou Diaby had a wonderful low strike tipped around the post by the agile Doni before Eboue flashed wide after pouncing on a mistake by Simone Loria.
Roma, who have only won one of their previous 15 games away to English sides, were a better proposition in the second half but provided little threat in attack, with Francesco Totti and Julio Baptista disappointing.
Wenger brought on Mexican left-sided forward Carlos Vela and Welsh youngster Aaron Ramsey in the hope that they could give his side a little bit more to play with at the Stadio Olimpico, but it remained at 1-0 with the promise of a nail-biting second leg.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Ramsey 82), Denilson, Diaby (Song Billong 62), Nasri, Van Persie, Bendtner (Vela 67).
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Merida.
Booked: Toure, Nasri.
Goals: Van Persie 37 pen.
Roma: Doni, Motta, Mexes, Loria (Diamoutene 71), Riise, Perrotta, De Rossi, Brighi (Pizarro 56), Taddei, Julio Baptista (Vucinic 82), Totti.
Subs Not Used: Artur, Ribeiro, Tonetto, Montella.
Booked: Mexes, Brighi, De Rossi.
Att: 60,003
Ref: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).
www.bbc.co.uk
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Arsène Wenger insists Arsenal “aren’t far” from agreeing a new deal for Robin van Persie.
The Dutchman has enjoyed an outstanding campaign after shrugging off the injuries which had hampered his progress since Arsenal moved to Emirates Stadium in 2006.
Van Persie memorably scored or assisted every Arsenal goal in January and has scooped three consecutive O2/Arsenal.com Player of the Month awards.
Wenger believes that the 25-year-old forward has taken on extra responsibility this season and admits that a ‘focused’ Van Persie is key to Arsenal’s success.
“The latest news is that we try to extend his contract and we aren’t far,” revealed Wenger at his pre-match press conference.
“Of course he has a big responsibility because we have many offensive players who have been out. Eduardo and Rosicky - a year. Cesc Fabregas and Walcott - three months. We have a lot of offensive players out and we have to do something about that.
“Robin is completely focused and motivated to do it like the rest of the team. He knows he is at the right age to win trophies. He sees that we have the potential to do it. He is highly focused I must say.”
www.arsenal.com
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Robin van Persie has indicated he will not sign a new contract at Arsenal unless he feels he will end up winning trophies there on a regular basis. The Dutch striker has reportedly been offered a £70,000-a-week deal – double his current wage – but is waiting to gauge whether the side will be in a position to mount a serious bid for silverware in the near future.
"Financially the club's last offer is fine but that is not everything to me. It's about my ambitions and how they can be fulfilled in the coming years," Van Persie told the Sun.
"Arsenal have promised me they will do everything possible to make that extra step to a level where we win prizes on a regular basis," he added. "In the last four years I have only had one prize, the FA Cup, and that's not enough."
The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, admitted last month that he may well struggle to hold on to his leading players if the team's slump continues. They currently occupy fifth place in the Premier League, five points off a Champions League position. Failure to qualify for Europe's elite club competition next season will have severe effects on Arsenal's finances and ability to attract new players.
Van Persie, who has 15 months to run on his existing contract, has spoken out more than once this season to express his frustration at the side's inconsistent displays. "It's just not working," he complained a fortnight ago following a goalless draw at Tottenham Hotspur. Despite the recent £16m signing of Andrei Arshavin, Wenger has been reluctant to enter the transfer market, preferring to encourage young talent from within the club.
The 25-year-old Van Persie has scored 14 goals this season and is seen as a central part of Wenger's plans. His manager may be heartened by the player's carefully worded entreaty. "I want to achieve more. I feel I can play an important role in bringing Arsenal to a higher level," he said.
www.guardian.co.uk
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Robin van Persie believes that a combination of good health and increased awareness of his responsibilities has contributed towards his good form.
The 25-year-old has scored 14 goals in all competitions so far this season, prompting a third successive nomination for the club's player of the month award.
Improvements in health and fitness have largely contributed towards the Dutch striker's excellent form of late.
Assessing his season so far, the Gunners front-man says he is delighted to have avoided any injury problems this term.
Communication
"The biggest step forward I have taken has been in terms of my fitness," he told Voetbal International.
"I had enjoyed good times before, but that only ever lasted four months or so before I suffered an injury.
"I've learned that it is better to communicate with the coaches and the medical staff.
"In the past, I would have muscle pain and, even if it was recommended that I take it easy, I would nag them to let me play. Now, I realise it is better to trust in their opinions.
"In the summer, I set myself a goal: to keep fit all season. I must say that I'm on track."
Van Persie went on to add that although scoring goals is important, working as a team has equally as much value.
"Technically, I am not doing anything all that different to what I did before," he said.
"The biggest difference is that I have learned, in various ways, how to be more effective for the team.
"I don't always have to score goals. It can be helpful just to keep your opponents under pressure."
www.skysports.com
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An impressive debut from Andrey Arshavin failed to lift Arsenal to victory over a stubborn Sunderland.
The Russian almost scored twice in the first 15 minutes, shooting just wide and then seeing a drive well saved.
Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner also went close, while Dean Whitehead and Anton Ferdinand had shots kept out.
Carlos Vela, William Gallas and Van Persie all missed late chances, as Arsenal's hopes of a Champions League spot were dealt another blow.
The Gunners went into the game looking to close the gap on fourth-placed Aston Villa, who lost to Chelsea earlier in the day.
And they started brightly, with new signing Arshavin creating an immediate impression.
He took only five minutes to show why Arsenal had pursued him so doggedly, as he picked up a loose ball and smashed a vicious, low drive only inches wide.
The little Russian was at it again shortly after, this time cutting in from the right and hitting a left-foot shot that forced Marton Fulop into a smart save. In between those chances, Van Persie had clipped the ball over Fulop but wide of the goal after he had been put though by Denilson.
Sunderland were struggling to get on the ball, while Arsenal looked in the mood to close on the gap on the top four.
But in their eagerness to make their early advantage tell, the Gunners began to leave themselves vulnerable to the counter-attack.
The visitors worked the ball quickly to Ferdinand, whose drive was punched away by Manuel Almunia - and it set the trend for the next 10 minutes.
Unfortunately for Sunderland their fluid approach play was not quite matched by their finishing, with Andy Reid shooting over and Whitehead denied by Almunia.
Arsenal fared no better in front of goal as they came up against an in-form Fulop, who did superbly to tip Bendtner's header round the post.
And when Fulop was beaten by Kolo Toure's header, Sunderland's defenders were on hand to clear the ball off the line.
Back at the other end, Kenwyne Jones was robbed by a backtracking Bacary Sagna just as he was about to shoot.
As the game wore on, there was a growing sense of frustration from the home crowd as Arsenal struggled to break down a resolute Sunderland defence.
The Londoners dominated possession but lacked a creative spark, particularly when Arshavin faded because of his lack of match fitness.
The forward's debut came to an end on 63 minutes when he made way for Carlos Vela - but he had shown plenty of quality in his first outing.
Sadly, quality was in short supply elsewhere on the field as Sunderland sat back and repelled an Arsenal side bereft of ideas.
A Van Persie free-kick that was beaten away by Fulop was a rare moment of goalmouth action.
And when Arsenal did create a decent opening, substitute Vela scuffed his shot from eight yards out.
In added time, Gallas rushed his volley from eight yards and Van Persie hit a shot straight at Fulop.
The succession of missed chances consigned Arsenal to their third successive goalless draw in the league.
It was a result that was greeted by boos from the home crowd, and one that leaves the Gunners six points behind Villa.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy (Gibbs 85), Nasri, Denilson, Song Billong (Eboue 78), Arshavin (Vela 63), Bendtner, Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Djourou, Merida.
Booked: Nasri, Clichy.
Sunderland: Fulop, Ben-Haim, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Tainio (Leadbitter 76), Reid (Murphy 78), Richardson, Jones (Edwards 88).
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Davenport, Healy, McShane.
Booked: Richardson, McCartney.
Att: 60,104
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
www.bbc.co.uk
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Eduardo scored a brace almost a year after breaking his leg to help Arsenal cruise past a lacklustre Cardiff in their FA Cup fourth-round replay.
The Croatia striker missed a header and a cheeky lob before grabbing the opener, nodding in Carlos Vela's cross.
Nicklas Bendtner doubled the lead when he headed in Samir Nasri's corner, before Eduardo scored from the spot after he was felled by Gavin Rae.
Robin Van Persie fired a fourth past the impressive goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
The Gunners will now face Burnley at the Emirates on the weekend of 7/8 March with the winner of that tie at home to Sheffield United or Hull in the quarter-finals.
It was three weeks since Cardiff produced a fantastic display to hold Arsenal to a goalless draw at Ninian Park, but despite being undefeated in 13 league and cup games before tonight, they lacked composure and belief in all departments on Monday.
With the Gunners unbeaten in 11 games but having scored only once in four games before Monday night's tie, manager Arsene Wenger will have been delighted to see striker Eduardo in action again.
The 25-year-old Brazil-born Croat made his long-awaited first-team comeback after fracturing his left fibula and dislocating his ankle in a tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor in February 2008.
The hosts were in full flow from the first whistle and came close to scoring three times in the opening eight minutes.
An unmarked Bendtner headed a Bacary Sagna cross narrowly wide and then Cardiff had their keeper Heaton - on loan from Manchester United and playing in place of Peter Enckelman - to thank for thwarting the rampant Arsenal attack.
Heaton palmed away a Vela pile-driver from 30 yards, before saving the follow-up from Bendtner. One minute later the keeper's gloves were in action again as they pushed away a William Gallas header.
After a missed header and a cheeky lob from the halfway line, Eduardo grabbed the opener on 19 minutes when he started and finished a fine move.
Eduardo poked the ball through to Vela, a real menace down the left throughout, who crossed into the box for his Brazilian-born team-mate to nod into the top corner.
Nasri almost doubled the lead after steaming through to the edge of the box and firing in a swerving shot that Heaton nearly mis-read but was eventually able to smother.
The Emirates crowd did not have to wait long for the second. An in-swinging corner from Nasri found Bendtner rising at the front post and he glanced his header inside the far post.
It was a miracle last year's FA Cup runners-up were not three behind at the interval with Bendtner guilty of a shocking miss.
Seconds after Heaton denied Vela, the ball fell to Bendtner but he could only hit the post.
He still had a chance to tuck in the rebound but Heaton heroically denied him.
Lukasz Fabianski had his first work to do in the Arsenal goal just before the hour after comfortably saving a 25-yard blast from Jay Bothroyd.
Two minutes later Eduardo was celebrating his team's third, converting a penalty he himself had earned after being clumsily bundled over by Rae. Eduardo's ensuing hugs with the Arsenal medical staff was a touching moment.
Eduardo's efforts were rewarded with an early breather 25 minutes from the end and he was replaced by Van Persie.
Apart from a free-kick by top scorer Ross McCormack which was deflected over the bar, Cardiff continued to be devoid of ideas and manager Dave Jones threw on Darcy Blake, Peter Whittingham and Riccardo Scimeca to inject some creativity.
Van Persie completed the demolition two minutes from the end, blasting in from the edge of the box after a pass from Bendtner, and the Dutchman headed against the post in the final action of the game.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Gibbs, Nasri (Ramsey 67), Denilson, Song Billong, Vela (Bischoff 74), Eduardo (Van Persie 67), Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Wilshere, Clichy.
Booked: Gallas, Bendtner.
Goals: Eduardo 20, Bendtner 34, Eduardo 60 pen, Van Persie 89.
Cardiff: Heaton, McNaughton, Purse (Blake 68), Roger Johnson, Kennedy, Burke, Rae (Scimeca 74), Ledley, Parry (Whittingham 68), Bothroyd, McCormack.
Subs Not Used: Sak, Capaldi, Eddie Johnson, Comminges.
Att: 57,237
Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
www.bbc.co.uk
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Robin Van Persie believes Arsenal have to win something this season to prove their critics wrong.
Arsene Wenger's side have come under fire after going almost four years without a trophy - their last silverware was the 2005 FA Cup.
Arsenal are struggling to break into the top four and their best chance of success this season will be in the FA Cup or Champions League.
The Gunners face a tricky replay against Cardiff with Wenger still missing several key players including Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott through injury. Nevertheless, Van Persie is convinced his side have enough quality to win a trophy and has sympathy with the fans' frustrations.
Van Persie said: "I am like them, I feel the same. I want it as badly as them and it can be frustrating when it does not happen. I think positively, though, and the fans should do that as well. The club has gone too long without winning anything and we are doing everything we can to change it.
"When I joined, the team were winning things for fun and in my first year here we won the FA Cup and that was really special for me.
"If we could achieve it this year it would be an even bigger achievement considering how unlucky we have been with injuries."
www.mirror.co.uk
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Every week Arsenal TV Online will bring you two free videos.
The first of these this week is a 'Teenage Kicks' interview with Robin van Persie where he talks about growing up as a teenager in Holland.
You can see the video here.
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Has there ever been a more deserving winner of the O2/Arsenal.com Player of the Month award?
Robin van Persie enjoyed an incredible January in the Arsenal attack, scoring or setting up EVERY Arsenal goal. That's a total of three goals and five assists, culminating in a thunderous strike to rescue a point at Everton.
The Dutchman kicked off 2009 with two goals and an assist for Nicklas Bendtner against Plymouth and then set up the winner for the Danish striker against Bolton. Three assists at Hull City were gratefully accepted by Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri and Bendtner before Van Persie's timely intervention at Goodison Park.
No wonder Robin polled a staggering 88.5 per cent of your votes to claim his third consecutive monthly award. For the record, Nasri polled 5.3 per cent and Manuel Almunia was third with 1.4 per cent. But January belonged to Arsenal's dynamic Dutchman.
JANUARY Player of the Month
Robin van Persie 88.5%
Samir Nasri 5.3%
Manuel Almunia 1.4%
Others 4.8%
Murray White from Chesterfield has won the chance to present Robin with his award before a home game against Emirates Stadium this month. Murray will also receive two tickets to that match.
"He scored or assisted every Arsenal goal during the month. Need we say anything more?" said Murray.
www.arsenal.com
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Below-par Netherlands were held to a 1-1 draw by Tunisia in their international friendly on Wednesday after Jamel Saihi cancelled out Klaas Jan Huntelaar's strike.
Huntelaar fired in his 11th international goal for the Dutch just past the hour when a long pass from Stijn Schaars was headed on by Joris Mathijsen.
But despite the Dutch dominating for long periods, the home side equalised soon after when keeper Maarten Stekelenburg misjudged a long drive from Saihi.
"This was an African opponent and we hardly have any experience with them," Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk told SBS6-TV.
"The match was so hard that it was everything but a friendly. We have to learn how to handle matches like this.
"Before the break our pace was too low and therefore we created no danger, but in the second we had more speed on our flanks and that resulted in more chances."
Ryan Babel rounded his marker to set up Arjen Robben but the winger missed the target, while playmaker Rafael van der Vaart found keeper Hamdi Kasroui in his way when he appeared unmarked in the penalty area.
Netherlands: Stekelenburg, Heitinga (Van der Wiel 84), Ooijer, Mathijsen, Braafheid, Van Bommel (Schaars 59), De Jong (Mendes da Silva 59), Van Persie (Babel 46), Sneijder (v.d Vaart 46), Robben, Kuijt (Huntelaar 46).
Subs not used: Timmer, Marcellis, De Zeeuw.
Goals: Huntelaar 61.
Booked: De Jong.
Tunisia: Kasraoui, Souissi, Haggui, Jaidi, Jemal, Ben Khalfallah (Tayeb 60), Demai (Ben Yahia 46), Ragued, Saihi (Camus 76), Chermiti (Jemaa 46), Selliti (Belaid 46).
Subs not used: Unknown.
Goals: Saihi 66.
Booked: Souissi, Ben Khalfallah, Demai, Jemaa, Tayeb.
Att: 17.000.
Ref: Fattah.
www.reuters.com
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Robin van Persie is just one spot away from Holland's top 25 goal scorers.The Arsenal striker scored 12 goals for the Dutch national team just like Henk Groot, Piet Kruiver and Johnny Rep. Holland's all time top scorer is Patrick Kluivert with 40 goals.
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Our online photo gallery is the biggest collection of Robin van Persie photos on the internet. We have many match photos but also a lot of photos from Dutch training sessions. The folder with those photos is so big now that we have to reorganize things. We will add the photos by season in different folders in the next few days. The photos from this season have their own folder already.
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Arsenal’s run of 11 games without defeat is not good enough for Robin van Persie.
Speaking after the draw at Tottenham on Sunday, the Arsenal striker suggested solitary points were insufficient if his side are going to catch Chelsea in fourth place. The White Hart Lane stalemate was a worthy result given that the visitors played with 10 men for 54 minutes after Emmanuel Eboue was sent off but, at the same time, the Dutchman knows his team needs more.
“In the last three Premier League games we have had three draws and that is just not good enough,” he said. “It’s six points missing.
“If we had those six points...,” he went on before interrupting himself. “But this is if, if, if.
“We are working hard but we know we are not there yet. We are not scoring enough goals and we are not playing well enough. But everyone is staying positive and we are trying to help each other. The basics are there, it’s just up to us to finish it off now.
“Sometimes it’s me to blame or another player to blame. Sometimes we are unlucky. Everybody can judge that for themselves.
“But we are still creating the chances. Even with 10 men we had a few chances on Sunday. So I am not really worried because we are still doing that part.”
Fortunately, Arsène Wenger now has options in attack with Andrey Arshavin arriving from Zenit St Petersburg
and Eduardo back on the bench at White Hart Lane after almost a year out.
“Yes Eduardo has been working really hard and everyone is just really happy that he is back,” said Van Persie. “He has been out for 12 months now. Hopefully he can play, the sooner the better.
“And Arshavin has looked good in training - they both have. I really believe in their qualities so there is more to come.”
www.arsenal.com
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Robin Van Persie tackles the topics of discussion two by two. He reflects on the two creative parents who passed on a gene he believes has defined him as a footballer. On the two weeks he spent in a Rotterdam jail.
Click on 'Lees meer' for the whole article.
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes Robin van Persie can be a better all round player than Dennis Bergkamp.
Comparisons between the two have been made on a regular basis ever since Van Persie burst onto the scene as a talented teenager at Feyenoord.
The Dutch pair play in a similar role, as a support striker, are comfortable in possession and have a keen eye for goal.
Bergkamp was seen as a master of his art during his playing days, enjoying a glittering career which took in spells at Ajax, Inter Milan and Arsenal.
Van Persie may have some way to go before he can claim to have emulated the achievements of his countryman, but his current boss at club level believes the 25-year-old has the talent to see him eclipse his idol in the future.
"Van Persie is Dennis Bergkamp - with goals. You look at his scoring record and it is better than Dennis's," Wenger said in the Daily Star Sunday.
"When Robin came here it was a big move for him, but we gave him a role model in Dennis and now he has really grown into that role.
Influence
"Robin will tell you Dennis was a big influence on him because he respected him and listened to his advice.
"Dennis was 34, the right age to want to help.
"Robin's always had the vision and the talent, but what really stands out for me is how he's developed into a team player. It's a remarkable transformation.
"And the fact he is 25, you know he's going to get better. His best years are in front of him."
Van Persie is currently in negotiations with Arsenal regarding a five-year contract extension and Wenger is keen to see the Dutchman commit his long-term future to the club.
"We want Robin here as long as possible," said the French coach.
"We're working very hard to get a new contract sorted."
www.skysports.com
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Robin van Persie is hoping to reach an agreement with Arsenal which will see him sign a contract extension.
The Dutchman has been in talks with club officials for some time but is yet to commit his future to the Gunners.
However, Van Persie remains optimistic that a deal can be struck as he has no desire to move elsewhere.
The 25-year-old forward, who moved to England in 2004, has developed into a world class talent during his time in North London and believes Emirates Stadium remains the ideal location to further develop his talents.
"We have been in talks about a new contract for a while now," Van Persie told the Daily Mail.
"I have been in some of the meetings and the club knows how I feel about things.
"I am very ambitious and I know the club is, too. I know we have what it takes. The potential is here but we need to make the final step. I have an influence in that. I know that."
Unlucky
Van Persie admits Arsenal's troubles during the current campaign have given him cause for concern, but he is confident that the season will end on a high note for the club.
"I have an opinion on what the problems are but I don't think it's fair to express that in a newspaper,' he added.
"But we have been unlucky. If you look at some of the key players, we have been unlucky. (Tomas) Rosicky has been out for a year, Eduardo for nine or 10 months. Cesc Fabregas has been out for a few months now. I had problems last year. It doesn't help.
"We really miss Cesc. I think everyone can see that. He's a special player, a big player, another artist. He has vision, a quick mind. He's the heartbeat of the team. He makes the game.
"The potential is huge but we are not there yet. Right now we are five points behind Aston Villa. All credit to Villa. The way they are working is really good. But this is not the way I want to be.
"I don't even want to fight for fourth place. I want to fight for the title.
"I appreciate we have to first catch Villa. But it's not my ambition to finish ahead of Villa. That's not how I started the season. For the moment this is not good enough. It's not our aim to be fifth. But we are working hard to change that."
www.skysports.com
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Robbie Keane drew a blank on his return to White Hart Lane as Arsenal survived the first-half dismissal of Emmanuel Eboue to earn a point against Tottenham in the north London derby.
Arsene Wenger's side - who also lost Emmanuel Adebayor to a hamstring injury and left new signing Andrey Arshavin as an unused substitute - will be happier with the stalemate after a frenetic encounter short on quality.
In reality, however, the result did little to help Spurs' bid to escape the Premier League danger zone or the Gunners' attempts to force their way into the top four.
Eboue was sent off by referee Mike Dean after 37 minutes for lashing out at Luka Modric, after earlier being needlessly booked for dissent.
Keane had a busy debut, flashing a header just over and shooting narrowly wide in the second half, but Arsenal's rearguard action ensured Spurs must wait to end their sequence of failing to beat their arch-rivals in the Premier League since 1999.
The home side enjoyed superiority in terms of possession and territory, and it took a vital block from Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia to deny Modric when he raced clear in injury time.
Modric and Aaron Lennon also forced earlier saves from Almunia, while Roman Pavlyuchenko missed two good opportunities.
Arsenal rarely threatened at the other end, but when they did Alex Song wasted their best chance when he shot wide from eight yards following a corner.
Tottenham keeper Carlo Cudicini was relatively untroubled until he turned over a shot from Nicklas Bendtner late on.
Wenger will be satisfied with the resilience demonstrated by his 10 men, but he cut an animated and frustrated figure for much of the afternoon.
The loss of two more points surely kills off any lingering suggestion that Arsenal might be involved in the Premier League title race, and increases the pressure in their attempt to break into the Champions League places.
Spurs gave newly appointed captain Keane an instant debut after his return from a miserable spell at Liverpool - but Wenger decided to keep Arshavin on the bench.
The visitors' main danger in a fiercely contested first half came down the flanks, with Eboue an early threat after being played in by Robin van Persie.
But Harry Redknapp's side had moments of their own, with Lennon's low drive producing a save from Almunia and Pavlyuchenko shooting over from a promising position.
Modric has shown signs of flourishing under Redknapp's guidance after struggling, along with many others, under the stewardship of Juande Ramos.
The Croatian was at the heart of most of Spurs' best efforts, creating an opening for Lennon with an astute pass inside Gael Clichy and then forcing Almunia into action with an effort from 20 yards.
Spurs were almost the architects of their own downfall after 31 minutes when Vedran Corluka's clumsy attempts to shepherd the ball out of play saw him robbed by a combination of Samir Nasri and Clichy, but Arsenal wasted the opportunity.
Arsenal suffered a double blow as the interval approached, when first Adebayor was stretchered off with a hamstring injury and Eboue was sent off after 37 minutes.
Eboue had been booked by referee Mike Dean earlier after a prolonged bout of dissent, and he saw red for kicking out at Modric following a clash that also saw the Spurs midfield man booked.
Spurs, with morale lifted by their numerical advantage, pressed after the break with Pavlyuchenko failing to hit the target with an angled effort and Keane glancing Lennon's cross on to the top of the net.
Redknapp clearly felt his side needed extra attacking impetus to break down what was becoming a rearguard action from Wenger's side, and he responded by sending on Darren Bent for Pavlyunchenko after 63 minutes.
But it was the Gunners who created the big opening six minutes later, only for Song to steer Van Persie's corner wide from eight yards.
Keane had only been given fleeting chances, but he almost fashioned an opening with a right-foot volley that flew just wide.
Bendtner then nearly provided a stunning finale with a volley that Cudicini did well to turn over - but there was still time for Modric to close in with only Almunia to beat, but the Arsenal keeper ensured the spoils were shared.
Tottenham: Cudicini, Corluka (Chimbonda 74), Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Taarabt 87), Jenas, Palacios, Modric, Pavlyuchenko (Bent 64), Keane.
Subs Not Used: Gomes, Bale, Zokora, Huddlestone.
Booked: Modric.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy (Gibbs 87), Eboue, Song Billong, Denilson, Nasri, Adebayor (Bendtner 38), Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Eduardo, Ramsey, Djourou, Arshavin.
Sent Off: Eboue (37).
Booked: Eboue, Clichy.
Att: 36,021
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).
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Arsène Wenger is confident that he can secure the services of Robin van Persie on a long-term contact.
The Dutchman’s deal runs out in the summer of 2010 and his recent form has suggested the manager should do his utmost to keep the 25-year-old at Emirates Stadium.
Van Persie has, at times, struggled with injury since signing from Feyenoord but his season’s tally of 25 starts and 13 goals is as good as any in his previous five years.
Understandably, Wenger wants him to be part of Arsenal’s future.
"I'm convinced it means a lot to Robin to stay here,” said Wenger. “He wants to be part of the Club and of course we have to satisfy his demands as well. I don't think we're far away.
“He knows how much it means to me and we will try to sort him out and Walcott. I've invested a lot of time in him because I feel it is important to them and it means something to them to be at this Club.”
Against West Ham on Saturday, Van Persie is hoping to complete the perfect January – he has scored or assisted every goal so far this month. It has been perhaps his best period at the Club and was capped with an equaliser at Everton on Wednesday which could not be over-praised or over-estimated in its importance.
"I believe him being fit has helped him greatly,” said Wenger. “He is a player who has made an extreme improvement. When you consider the player who arrived here and who he is today it's absolutely fantastic.
"He has two ingredients which are very important - the talent and the motivation. He thinks, lives and breathes football every moment of his life. He is much more mature now as well.
"However if you look at the numbers we are over reliant on him at the moment,” added Wenger. “And the danger is to over play him at the moment. We still have to be a bit cautious with him.”
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West Ham stretched their unbeaten run to eight games as Arsenal's Champions League hopes suffered a dent.
Neither side managed a chance on target in a dire first half dominated by Arsenal, and this was to prove costly.
After the break Arsenal were all over West Ham but Emmanuel Adebayor wasted the game's two best chances with a shot wide and header straight at the keeper.
The visitors were on the back foot for almost the entire second half but their stout defending earned them a point.
Arsenal nearly made an ideal start when West Ham defender James Collins was forced to head against his own bar from a corner, but it turned out to be a false dawn for what proved to be a dismal first 45 minutes.
Neither side mustered a serious effort on target, with Arsenal comfortably on top in terms of possession, but doing very little to stretch the West Ham defence or threaten Robert Green's goal.
Emmanuel Eboue was industrious and involved in most of Arsenal's attacks, but his afternoon came to a premature end when he limped off, to be replaced by Carlos Vela, following a challenge by Scott Parker.
Collins had West Ham's only vaguely threatening chance with a header in first-half injury-time, and the Welshman was at the centre of the action once again shortly after the restart when he cleared the best chance of the game so far.
Green's poor punch clear only went as far as Kolo Toure, near the edge of the box, and he hooked the ball back over his shoulder towards the goal, but Collins was on hand to head clear.
Twice in quick succession Matthew Upson had to make blocks from Denilson efforts as Arsenal continued to play at a higher tempo, and Adebayor wasted the best chance of the game so far when he poked Bacary Sagna's cross wide of the post.
Arsenal continued to pile on the pressure, but another great chance went begging when Adebayor put his free header straight into the arms of Green.
West Ham barely left their own half as they soaked up Arsenal's punches, but Carlton Cole's easily held shot from distance showed the home side they could not afford to be too complacent.
The longer the game went on the more desperate Arsenal became, and the full price of Adebayor's missed chances became clear.
Adou Diaby was stretchered off after a collision with Savio in injury time, which summed up a frustrating afternoon for the Gunners.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Vela 36), Diaby (Song Billong 90), Denilson, Nasri, Adebayor, Bendtner (Van Persie 68).
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Djourou, Gibbs.
Booked: Diaby, Vela.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Noble (Nsereko 70), Collison, Cole, Di Michele (Boa Morte 83).
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Spector, Tristan, Sears.
Booked: Collins, Neill.
Att: 60,109
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
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