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Having said ‘auf wiedersehen’ to Austria, Arsenal made a stopover in Hannover on the way home and picked up another welcome pre-season win.
Wednesday’s 1-0 victory at the Bundesliga side came courtesy of a gorgeous goal from Cesc Fabregas in the ninth minute.
This was the toughest and closest game of Arsenal’s early campaign in season 2009/10 but Arsène Wenger’s side were always in control.
They got the early goal and then seemed happy to play neat, tidy but slightly constrained football. It was more than enough on the night.
Still, the win capped off a busy and productive training camp near Graz. The squad now fly back to England and their immediate target is to try and regain the Emirates Cup this weekend.
The news before kick-off was not about Wenger’s team selection but the much-anticipated transfer of Kolo Toure to Manchester City.
The Ivorian’s departure leaves William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen as the most likely first-choice centre back pairing. Therefore perhaps it was indicative that these two started tonight’s game in tandem.
Interestingly, Wenger – who, for some reason, was given an armchair to watch the game from at pitchside - began with a 4-3-3 formation. Fabregas, Denilson and Alex Song were strung across the midfield. Robin van Persie was the central point of a wide front three with Andrey Arshavin left and Nicklas Bendtner right.
Hannover’s impressive AMD Arena was just under two-thirds full on a sweltering night in northern Germany. The Reds had been a mid-table Bundesliga side since winning promotion to the top flight six years ago.
Supposedly there was a little more optimism around this season and, given that Dieter Hecking’s side kick-off their campaign at Hertha Berlin next Saturday, you would have expected them to be a little sharper than Arsenal this evening. However that was not the case early on.
Hannover had the first real chance in the seventh minute when Jan Rosenthal reached the byline and cut the ball back to Nelson Cuevas just outside the area. The Paraguayan’s first-time effort sailed horribly high over the bar.
Arsenal would reply in exquisite fashion a couple of minutes later. Van Persie spotted Fabregas darting into the area and found him with the most perceptive of reverse passes. Once the Spaniard had nudged the ball away from the onrushing keeper all he had to do was gather himself and tuck a shot inside the near post.
Arshavin should have doubled the advantage shortly afterwards but his angled shot was beaten away by keeper Robert Enke. Hannover threatened from set-pieces after that but would muster nothing of consequence for the remainder of the half.
Armand Traore made way for Mikael Silvestre in the 33rd minute. The younger Frenchman had presumably picked up a knock but nothing was obvious.
In truth this was becoming pretty listless pre-season fare. Arsenal were the superior technical side but seemed happy playing in third gear. They upped the rev count shortly before the interval and were nearly rewarded with a second goal.
In the 43rd minute, Van Persie’s drive was blocked by the sliding Cuevas at the near post. Bendtner met the resultant corner with a firm header but Jacek Krzynowek booted the ball off the line. The clearance was fed back to Van Persie on the right however his low cross was diverted wide by Enke.
At half-time Wenger replaced William Gallas, Bendtner, Fabregas, and Vito Mannone with Wojciech Szczesny, Johan Djourou, Aaron Ramsey and Bacary Sagna.
Hannover nearly got back on level terms in the opening seconds. Rosenthal whipped in a cross from the right and Ramsey’s clearing header flew a few feet wide of his own goal.
Just past the hour, Mike Henke broke clear for a second before being caught and smothered by a swathe of white shirts. Vermaelen took his tackling a little too far and gave away a free-kick 30 yards out. Sergio Pinto sent it just wide.
Eduardo replaced Van Persie midway through the second half. It was a surprise given that the Croatian had not been named on the pre-match team-sheet.
Szczesny was tested a couple of times after that. Firstly he batted aside a long-range drive then he held Pinto’s cross at the second attempt.
However Hannover's direct approach was effectively neutralised by the Arsenal back four.
This was a straight-forward performance and straight-forward win.
Now Arsenal are heading back to Emirates Stadium.
Hannover 96: Enke, Cherundolo (Tarnat 74), Hanke, Bruggink, Balitsch, Schulz, Krzynowek (Forssel 62), Haggui, Rosenthal, Cuevas (Stajner 46), Rausch.
Subs not used: Fromlowitz, Bergantin, Pinto, Djakpa, Rama, Balogun, Schmiedebach.
Booked: Balitsch, Rosenthal.
Arsenal: Mannone (Szczesny 46), Eboué, Vermaelen, Gallas (Djourou 46), Traore (Silvestre 34), Denilson, Fabregas (Ramsey 46), Song, Arshavin, Van Persie (Eduardo 69), Bendtner (Sagna 46).
Booked: Bendtner, Van Persie, Sagna.
Goals: Fabregas 8.
Att: 31.412
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It's time to reveal the Gunners' Greatest 50 Goals - as voted for by Arsenal's fans. Robin van Persie's goal against Charlton Athletic in 2006 ended at the third place. Number two is the goal from Thierry Henry against Manchester United in 2000. Dennis Bergkamp's goal against Newcastle United in 2002 is the Greatest goal ever scored by a Gunner.
Marco van Basten's volley for Holland in the European Championship Final of 1988 is often held up as the best of its kind. But this goal - by another Dutchman - runs it very close.
Robin van Persie's technical ability and explosive finishing has never been in doubt and he married both together in spectacular style at Charlton in September 2006.
Van Persie had already rescued Arsenal from a perilous position in the match, levelling with a crisp finish after Darren Bent had fired the Addicks in front. And what better way to win the game than with this wonderful volley at the Valley?
The move started with a raking crossfield pass to Alex Hleb on the right. He threaded a pass inside the Charlton full-back for Emmanuel Eboue to charge onto. The Ivorian's marauding runs from right-back were a feature of Arsenal's attacking play at the time and he met the ball with a first-time cross which curved towards the edge of the penalty area.
Meanwhile Van Persie had sprinted forward to get near the box for Eboue's delivery. He met the cross at high speed, 20 yards from goal, leaping into the air to keep his left boot over the ball. The Dutchman executed his volley perfectly and it flew past Charlton keeper Scott Carson en route to the top corner.
Van Persie celebrated wildly and who could blame him? He had just scored the greatest goal of his career.
You can watch the goal here.
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A few days earlier, it had been rumoured that the Croatian striker was injured and would miss the first two months of the season. However he seemed extremely fit and well this evening, firing home a low shot in the 24th minute and a free-kick five minutes before the break.
Nicklas Bendtner also poached a pair before the interval. The great Dane nodded in a delightful cross from Armand Traore in the 17th minute and slotted home a simple second, the fourth for his team, just before half time.
The flood of goals dried up somewhat after the interval but Robin van Persie did add to Arsenal's tally, scoring with a penalty in the 66th minute. He also had a late header ruled out.
Haladas did have a chance for some consolation from the penalty spot seven minutes from time but Brazilian defender Barbosa slipped in his run-up and could only trickle the ball past the post.
It was a slightly comical end to a serious run-out for Arsenal and a very, very straightforward win.
It was a bright and breezy night in Western Hungary. The team coach made the winding, hour-long trip from the Club’s Austrian training carrying a team in good spirits.
It had been a week of tough-but-necessary double sessions in practice plus that notable 7-1 thumping of SC Columbia last Tuesday.
However while that side played in Austrian division four, Haladas had finished third in the Hungarian top flight last term and had won themselves a place in the Europa League.
Unfortunately for them, four days before this fixture the Rohonci úti Stadion had witnessed their exit from that competition to Elfsborg in the Third Qualifying Round. Despite that, this was still a significant increase in pre-season standard for Wenger’s side.
The opening stages were cagey. Haladas keeper Daniel Rozsa rushed out to deny Bendtner and, in the ninth minute, captain Peter Toth thumped the ball into the Arsenal net at the far post. However the whistle had long since blown for offside.
Keeper Vito Mannone nearly copied Manuel Almunia’s mistake at SC Columbia when his clearance was charged down by Marton Oross and flew a few yards wide of goal.
The Italian keeper had to rush out again in the 17th minute to deny two breakaway Haladas strikers. It was nearly an immediate response for the home side because, a few seconds earlier, they had fallen behind to the simplest of goals. Troare flew down the left and crossed for the unmarked Bendtner to steer home a header at the near post.
In the 24th minute, Arsenal doubled their advantage when Eduardo found some space in the corner of the area and drove home a low shot off the base of the far post.
Left back Toth seemed the most attacking outlet for the hosts and blasted over an effort shortly afterwards.
However, having barely extended themselves to create a 2-0 lead, Arsenal were playing well within themselves. Eduardo fired straight into the chest of Rozsa and, shortly afterwards, Bendtner would have headed home had he not collided with the Croatian in mid-air.
The duo would become much more cohesive as the end of the first half approached. First Bendtner was fouled five yards outside the area and Eduardo’s low free-kick crept inside the far post with keeper floundering. Then, two minutes from the whistle, Bendtner had time and space on the edge of the area to pick his spot. He chose to beat the keeper with shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Wenger made eight substitutions at the break. Only Jack Wilshere, Eduardo and Aaron Ramsey stayed on.
It seemed almost cruel bringing on a fresh Andrey Arshavin and Van Persie against a side already 4-0 down. Within a few minutes of the restart, the Dutchman had headed on to the top of the net and the Russian had blasted just wide.
In the 53rd minute, Wilshere got in on the act. The winger scooped a shot over the keeper and back off the bar. A cheeky effort.
Eduardo made way after 62 impressive minutes and Bendtner came back on. Five minutes later the 21-year-old was needlessly felled by Rozsa in the area and Van Persie scored with a perfect penalty into the top corner.
Wilshere nearly nudged home a delightful third but, with 15 minutes left, Haladas did at least threaten a goal. Something they had failed to do since the first quarter of an hour. Wojciech Szczesny pulled off fine double save from Norbert Lattenstein and Roland Ugrai then tipped over a free-kick from Szabolcs Schimmer.
Normal service was nearly resumed as Van Persie nodded home from Mikael Silvestre’s steepling cross 11 minutes from time. However his effort was ruled out.
Haladas should have troubled the scorers in the 83rd minute when Gallas was adjudged to have impeded Matel Skriba. However Barbosa slipped in his run-up and could only send the ball scuttling past the post.
Arsenal’s goal-hungry pre-season continues.
Szombathelyi Haladas: Daniel, Sza Bolos, Richard, Damel, Balazs, Ignacz, Bence, Peter, Attila, Marton, N. Gabor.
Substitutes: Gergo, Zoltan, R. Gabor, Barbosa, Ardan.
Arsenal: Mannone (Szczesny 46), Eboué (Sagna 46), Touré (Vermaelen 46), Djourou (Gallas 46), Traore (Silvestre 46), Wilshere, Denilson (Arshavin 46), Song (Senderos 46), Ramsey, Eduardo, Bendtner (Van Persie 46).
Goals: Bendtner 17, 43, Eduardo 24, 40, Van Persie 66 (pen).
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Robin van Persie would welcome another striker at Arsenal to replace Emmanuel Adebayor.
The Togolese forward left for Manchester City just over a fortnight ago and Arsène Wenger has yet to decide if he’ll go into the transfer market to bolster his front line.
Likewise, Van Persie believes that his manager has plenty of firepower already at Emirates Stadium but the 25-year-old is open-minded about a new acquisition.
“It depends how the boss wants to play – with one or two strikers up front,” said the Dutchman. “But myself, Eduardo, Nicklas and Carlos Vela can all play the main role up front. So there are at least four options.
“However if you ask me I am not against a new player as well because it would strengthen our squad.”
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Nicklas Bendtner, Robin van Persie and Aaron Ramsey scored two apiece as Arsenal kicked off their mini-European tour with a comfortable victory over SC Columbia.
Arsène Wenger’s side did suffer a minor embarrassment when a freakish goal from Patrick Lehner gave the amateurs a shock first-half lead.
That delighted a record crowd of 6,900 at the Schwarzlackenau Stadium but it merely stung Arsenal into action. Bendtner equalised within a minute and grabbed another after Ramsey had fired the visitors ahead.
Van Persie slotted home a penalty early in the second half and nodded in Bacary Sagna’s cross to make it five. William Gallas got in on the act before the end and Ramsey fired in late on to round off another useful workout.
In truth this was a straightforward assignment against vastly inferior opponents. But Wenger’s men will slowly crank up the intensity as they put the building blocks in place for the new campaign. Their next stop is just across the border in Hungary for Monday’s friendly at Szombathelyi.
The build-up to this game was dominated by the news that Samir Nasri will be out for up to three months after fracturing his right fibula in training. It is a substantial blow to Arsenal even if the return of Tomas Rosicky will compensate for his loss.
The Czech was rested for this game after making his long-awaited comeback at Barnet on Saturday but we did get a first glimpse of Emmanuel Eboue, Denilson, Abou Diaby, Ramsey and Bendtner this summer. They made the starting line-up while Kolo Toure, Bacary Sagna, Van Persie and Alex Song were named on the bench. Armand Traore and Philippe Senderos, back from season-long loan spells, were also among the substitutes.
The biggest name on the SC Columbia teamsheet was their 44-year-old free-kick specialist Julius Simon - although he would not get a chance to show off his party trick on this occasion. The Slovakia international scored 10 times last season as his team finished halfway up the Austrian Fourth Division.
The amateurs from the Floridsdorf district of Vienna weren’t expected to trouble their illustrious visitors but that didn’t stop the locals packing out the Schwarzlackenau Stadium – with the help of a small but boisterous Arsenal contingent. Beer and music were in plentiful supply as a festival atmosphere kicked in well before kick-off.
As expected the game was played almost exclusively in the Austrians’ half but Arsenal’s radar was off in the first half-hour or so.
Andrey Arshavin slotted wide after two minutes, Bendtner followed suit shortly afterwards, Ramsey also missed the target from just outside the box and Thomas Vermaelen squandered a decent chance for his first Arsenal goal, lashing a shot wide after Ramsey’s clever chip had fallen for him eight yards out.
Meanwhile, Gerhard Taschwer earned his corn in the Columbia goal. The keeper pushed away Diaby’s fierce shot at his near post and denied the Frenchman again when he tried his luck from long range.
Despite the pedestrian pace of what was essentially a training exercise, it seemed a matter of time before Arsenal broke the deadlock. Then Columbia raised the biggest cheer of the evening with a goal completely against the run of play.
It was a farcical one from Arsenal’s perspective. Mikael Silvestre played the ball back to Almunia but the Spaniard’s first touch was slightly heavy. As Lehner slid in, Almunia’s attempted clearance ricocheted off the striker and into the net.
Suitably embarrassed, Arsenal were stung into action. Within a minute they were level as Diaby charged down the right channel and squared the ball for Bendtner to tap into the roof of the net.
The scoreline soon had a more predictable look to it. Within three minutes of the Dane’s equaliser, Ramsey evaded a challenge on the edge of the Columbia box and slammed a shot into the bottom corner.
Four minutes later, Bendtner doubled his own tally. Running from deep, the striker flicked the ball to Ramsey and then collected the return pass inside the box before jinking past Taschwer and rolling the ball into the net.
It was a sign that Arsenal could pick up the pace at will.
Wenger made eight changes at the break with Senderos deployed in a defensive midfield role – quite possibly a first for the Swiss. And two of those substitutes linked up for Arsenal’s fourth goal as Traore’s cross was handled and Van Persie fired home from the spot.
The Dutchman so nearly set up a fifth for Denilson on the hour mark but, once again, Taschwer did well, rushing out to block the Brazilian’s low shot.
Wilshere and Ramsey returned to the fray with 20 minutes to go as Arshavin and Eboue were given a breather. Regardless of their personnel, Arsenal kept the scoreboard ticking over.
First Van Persie buried a header from Sagna’s right-wing cross and Gallas did likewise with 14 minutes remaining. Then Ramsey rounded things off with a fizzing shot which flew in off the post.
SC Columbia: Taschwer(Lipovski 79), Handl, Urban, D. Lehner, Pollack, Horvath, Frimmel, Potlatnik, Flandorfer, Simon, P. Lehner (Gunel 46).
Subs not used: Berthold, Schweigler, Buchinger, Schabata, Meisenbichler, Wiltschko.
Goals: Lehner 35.
Arsenal: Almunia (Szczesny 46), Eboué, Djourou (Touré 46), Vermaelen (Gallas 46), Silvestre (Traore 46), Wilshere* (Sagna 46), Denilson, Diaby (Senderos 46), Ramsey* (Song 46), Arshavin, Bendtner (Van Persie 46).
* Ramsey en Wilshere were also late substitutes for Eboué and Arshavin.
Goals: Bendtner 36, 44, Ramsey 39, 83, Van Persie 56 (pen), 73, Gallas 77.
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Robin van Persie is the 02/Arsenal.com Player of the Season.
The Dutchman was a major contributor to the Club's campaign with 20 goals but just as satisfying were the 44 games he played in an injury-free season.
Here, Arsenal.com editor Richard Clarke reflects on Van Persie's progress.
“Really?” exclaimed Robin van Persie with more than a hint of disbelief.
“Ah fantastic,” he added having got confirmation. “That is the biggest honour I always think.”
The striker had just been told he was Arsenal.com’s Player of the Season with a whopping 35.3 per cent of the vote. It was double delight for the Dutchman given where we were and what we were doing. The venue was a seafront room at the famous Carlton Hotel in Cannes. Van Persie had interrupted his holiday to not only sign a new contract but tell the world about it too.
So he had started the day in a good mood. Getting the fans’ approval simply validated the decision he had just made to commit the best years of his career to Arsenal.
There appeared to be no doubts in Van Persie’s mind in the interview that followed. He seemed determined and dogmatic about the brightness of the Club’s future.
Yet just over a year earlier, the player himself had question marks hanging over him. Injury had curtailed two admittedly eye-catching campaigns. Talent was never the issue, toughness certainly was. Given that Emmanuel Adebayor had just completed a 30-goal season and Eduardo looked the part before the horrors of St Andrews, Van Persie might have been pushed to get in the starting XI when everyone was fit.
Simply staying healthy throughout the 2008/09 season would have been a step forward but his contribution in that time would be special. The first real sign were those two second-half goals in the comeback at Chelsea in November. That was closely followed by an outstanding strike against Liverpool. Running at full speed, he chested down a lofted Samir Nasri through-ball on the edge of the area, turned his marker and lashed a shot past Pepe Reina. It was one fluid movement and typical of his cast-iron technique.
It was much more of a Bergkamp goal than an Henry one. And like his compatriot, Van Persie was as happy creating goals as scoring them. He contributed to all of Arsenal’s eight strikes in January – three as scorer and five as ‘assister’. He made all three at Hull City and lashed home a last-second leveller at Everton.
Unsurprisingly, he was Player of the Month but registering a staggering 88.5 per cent was a mark of his importance to a team that was now fighting with their backs to the wall. Remember in January, Aston Villa were still looking solid in fourth place. Arsenal had been clinging to their coat-tails and hindsight portrays this month as the one when Arsène Wenger’s side started to reel them in.
Perhaps Van Persie was just responding to responsibility. Arsène Wenger had made him captain for the first time for the FA Cup Third Round tie with Plymouth on January 3. He would score twice in a comfortable win. He also became the regular penalty-taker in the second half of the campaign.
Holding his nerve to score important spot-kicks against Roma, Villarreal and Manchester United in the Champions League. During that interview in France, Van Persie told an illuminating story. He recalled that while on international duty last season the Dutch had the usual Young vs Old practice match and, for the first time, he was put in the latter group.
Now Van Persie is 26 the day after Emirates Cup weekend – hardly geriatric. But it does make him an old head in an Arsenal side ran by early twentysomethings and stocked up with teenagers.
Of course while he answered certain questions last season, there will be a whole heap of further issues to address if Van Persie is to live up to his sky-high potential.
But back in that hotel room, the player concluded his interview by stating and re-stating his commitment to winning. “We will lift a trophy,” he said with steely assurance.
Thanks to your support, Robin van Persie will pick up a personal prize at the start of the coming campaign.
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Robin Van Persie turned down potential mega offers from Chelsea, Manchester City, Inter Milan and Juventus before signing his new four-year deal with Arsenal.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is a long-time admirer of the 25-year-old Dutch striker and a move to Arsenal's local rivals would have meant Van Persie did not need to uproot his family from their London home.
Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager now in charge at Inter, also wanted to sign Van Persie.
With Juventus and Manchester City ready to throw millions in wages at the Dutchman, and Arsenal not winning any silverware for a fourth season, the player could not have been blamed if he had headed through the Emirates' exit.
But Van Persie is adamant he has done the right thing in staying put.
He said: "I made a list. I wrote on one side what I had. And I wrote down what was lacking.
"At Arsenal, Arsene Wenger (above) values my contribu-tioto the team, my fellow players show the same appreciation and everyone who works in the club is wonderful and so warm to me.
"Apart from all that I have a great connection with the supporters. I find it fascinating how they show their love for me as a player.
"My heart says that I cannot play in the shirt of another club for the next four years. Money has never been an issue in my career.
"When I signed my first contract at Arsenal, I was not on big money at all.
"Now the club have shown their appreciation. But it is not the money-side why I signed a new deal.
"All I want to feel is a bit of respect and a good relationship with everyone at the club. And that's what I have here." Arsenal's lack of honours does trouble their talismanic striker.
Van Persie added: "The desire to win trophies is even bigger now."
Manchester United were too strong in their Champions League semi-final clash with Arsenal last season.
Van Persie said: "It would have been easy to say 'We had no chance again to win a trophy, I quit and will sign for another club'.
"But that's not me. I am not a quitter."
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Robin van Persie has urged the fans to put their trust in Arsene Wenger and his young Arsenal squad.
The Dutch striker recently committed his future to the Gunners in a new five-year deal reported to be worth around £80,000-a-week.
One of several deals to be tied up over the summer, Van Persie joins Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs who have all penned new contracts.
Defender Thomas Vermaelen is, so far, the only new addition to the squad, with Wenger still keen on utilising his current young string.
Defending his manager's tactics, Van Persie believes that - despite a lack of transfer activity - the club are more than capable of challenging for major honours next term.
"There is ambition. I have spoken to both the boss and [chief executive] Ivan [Gazidis] about it," Van Persie told Arsenal TV Online.
"They have really worked to get a really good team for next year.
"The boss got some stick from some of the fans last season, but if you look at the reaction at the end of the last game, that was tremendous and is the way all of the fans should react.
"I trust him and my message to everyone is: be patient, trust the team and the people above.
"This team has lots of potential and it is really important we stay together and fight for the same thing."
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Robin van Persie has revealed that his hunger to end Arsenal's trophy drought was a factor in him agreeing a new contract with the club.
On Wednesday it was announced that the Holland international had put pen-to-paper on a new long-term contract at Emirates Stadium.
Van Persie has so far lifted just the 2005 FA Cup, the club's last piece of silverware, since joining the Gunners from Feyenoord five yeas ago.
The attacker, who was his side's top goalscorer last season, confirmed his 'love' for Arsenal and is eagerly anticipating the new season.
"We have been talking for almost a whole year, and we managed to close the deal in between the two last international games, when we had agreed on all the important things," Van Persie told Arsenal TV Online.
"I start again on 13th July, and it is good to close the deal and start with a good feeling. I cannot wait for the new season."
He added: "One of the main reasons I signed was to lift a big trophy. I do not want to do it with a different team. I want to lift it with Arsenal.
"That is now my main target and it would make me so proud to do it.
"I know it is going to be hard, because we have lots of competition, with teams like Manchester City and Aston Villa getting stronger.
"But I still see big chances for Arsenal, and it is my dream to lift trophies with this team.
"I believe in Arsenal as a club, in the fans, in the teams. I just love Arsenal, which is the main reason why I signed.
"Sometimes you hear rumours, but my heart is with Arsenal.
"I just can't picture myself in a different shirt. I just can't see it now because I love this club so much.
"If you look at the last five years, look at the steps I have made every season, if you look at the support the boss and the whole club gave me, the fans gave me, my team-mates gave me - this is the right decision."
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| Robin starts next week, Monday July 13, at Arsenal. He got some extra days free. He enjoys his holiday in Cannes (France) at the moment where he also signed his new contract.
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Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that Robin van Persie has signed a new long-term contract with the Club.
Van Persie (25), who joined the Gunners from home town club Feyenoord in 2004, was Arsenal’s leading goalscorer last season with 20 goals from his 44 overall appearances.
In his five seasons with Arsenal, Van Persie, who is capable of turning a match at any time with a flourish of his left foot, has made 177 appearances for the Gunners, scoring a total of 63 goals in all competitions.
The Dutch international striker, is also a regular with his national team and has scored 13 goals from his 37 appearances, already helping the Netherlands qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
Van Persie, who was an FA Cup winner with the Club in 2005, played an integral part in Arsenal’s run to the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup semi-finals last season. As well as his 11 Premier League goals, Robin scored five times in the Champions League and four in the FA Cup. Throughout the season, Robin produced many important and match winning performances, most notably scoring both goals in the 2-1 league win at Chelsea last November.
Arsène Wenger said: “It’s fantastic news that Robin van Persie has committed his long term future to Arsenal Football Club, we’re all delighted. Robin is a hugely gifted player and has the talent and goalscoring ability to win matches at the very top level. We have already seen many times what Robin is capable of on a football pitch, but at only 25, there is still much more to come from him. Robin has the potential to become a true Arsenal great.”
Robin van Persie added: “I’m so happy to have signed a new long term contract. I’ve been at the Club for five years now and there really is a great feeling here at Arsenal. We have a top class manager, a squad full of superb young players, a world class stadium and brilliant supporters. Arsenal Football Club has a very bright future and I want to be part of it.
"My heart is with Arsenal and I just can’t picture myself in a different shirt. I just can’t see it now because I love this Club so much. If you look at the last five years, look at the steps I have made every season, if you look at the support the Boss and the whole Club gave me, the fans gave me, my team mates gave me – this is the right decision."
Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is looking forward to Robin’s continued contribution in the forthcoming years.
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We've added many photos to our photo gallery today. It are mainly older photos. You can find them in the maps Arsenal-Other, Holland-Arrival & departure, Holland-Other and the whole Private life and Media collection.
According to the BBC, Robin enjoys his holiday in St. Tropez at the moment. And according to Robin's new teammate Thomas Vermaelen, he and his teammates has to come back to Arsenal at July 7. So the season will start soon!
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