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Arsenal needed late goals from Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin to see off Olympiakos despite dominating their Champions League Group H clash.
The Gunners wasted a series of chances, with Cesc Fabregas firing against the bar and Antonis Nikopolidis making a succession of saves for the Greek side.
Van Persie finally broke the deadlock with 12 minutes left, slotting home Eduardo's cross after a neat move.
Arshavin made it 2-0 with a clever flick, despite appearing to be offside.
The win continues Arsenal's 100% start to their European campaign and they sit on top of their group after AZ Alkmaar drew with Standard Liege.
At times, their approach play was breathtaking, with Arshavin in particular standing out as he mixed crisp one-touch passing with the ability to run at - and often straight through - the visitors' defence.
But the Gunners' finishing was a different story and, although 38-year-old Nikopolidis made a string of stops, their failure to break the deadlock until the 78th minute was more down to poor finishing than any inspirational goalkeeping.
Arshavin was the first to test the former Greek international, firing in a first-time shot after a sublime pass by Fabregas was followed by some equally deft skill by Gael Clichy.
Nikopolidis was beaten soon afterwards when Fabregas sent his shot crashing against the crossbar, but he recovered to acrobatically keep out Tomas Rosicky's follow-up.
The chances continued to flow for Arsene Wenger's men, with Arshavin's low effort tipped wide after a mazy dribble into the box before Fabregas was denied again following another neat build-up.
It took Olympiakos 34 minutes to manage an meaningful attack of their own, with Vassilis Torosidis heading straight at Vito Mannone from Dudu's deep cross.
But Arsenal were soon back on the attack and ended the half in the same way they began it, with Van Persie firing over before Vassiriki Diaby headed wastefully wide when unmarked in front of goal.
The Greek champions did fashion the first opening of the second half, with Mannone doing well to scoop away Olof Mellberg's header on his goalline as Vassilis Torosidis prepared to pounce.
But they spent the remainder of the game on the back-foot, desperately trying to contain wave after wave of attacks.
Nikopolidis made further stops from Van Persie and Diaby but the home side remained patient and eventually got their reward.
Fabregas slid subsitute Eduardo clear down the left and he squared the ball for Van Persie to slam the ball home from close range.
Olympiakos tried to respond but only succeeded in leaving gaps at the back and they were punished further with four minutes to go.
Arshavin appeared a yard offside when he skilfully turned in a low Fabregas cross but he deserved his goal after an impressive individual performance.
Arsenal
* 24 Mannone
* 05 Vermaelen
* 10 Gallas
* 22 Clichy
* 27 Eboue
* 02 Diaby (Vela 78)
* 04 Fabregas yellow card
* 07 Rosicky (Eduardo 66)
* 17 Song Billong
* 23 Arshavin
* 11 Van Persie yellow card (Ramsey 85)
Substitutes
* 53 Szczesny,
* 03 Sagna,
* 06 Senderos,
* 28 Gibbs,
* 16 Ramsey,
* 09 Eduardo,
* 12 Vela
Olympiakos
* 71 Nikopolidis
* 04 Mellberg
* 14 Zewlakow yellow card
* 15 Raul Bravo yellow card
* 21 Papadopoulos
* 24 Leonardo (Oscar 82)
* 35 Torosidis yellow card
* 20 Dudu yellow card
* 28 Ledesma (Mitroglou 79)
* 10 Diogo
* 11 Jaouad Zairi (Stoltidis 46)
Substitutes
* 78 Urko,
* 03 Domi,
* 05 Galitsios,
* 06 Stoltidis,
* 08 Oscar,
* 33 Papadopoulos,
* 22 Mitroglou
Goals: Van Persie 1-0 '78, Arshavin 2-0 '86
Ref: Lannoy
Att: 59884
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Arsène Wenger says there is no better player than Robin van Persie when it comes to controlling and passing the ball in front of goal.
The Gunners manager also said that the Dutchman's technique is crucial to the way Arsenal play.
"He has such a short technique that he can bring other players in," said Wenger.
"We play with plenty of offensive players, so it is important you have somebody up front who can make a short control or a short pass.
"There is no better player than Robin at that."
The Frenchman also pointed out that Van Persie is "a great goalscorer", highlighting the goal against Fulham as a prime example of the striker's ability.
"It is a fantastic goal. The ball in was brilliant, the first touch is brilliant, and the second touch is in the back of the net. It was all perfect."
www.arsenal.com
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Robin van Persie has warned Arsenal not to underestimate Olympiacos in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger's team are favourites to qualify from Group H as the section's winners after being drawn with Olympiacos, Standard Liege and AZ Alkmaar. But the Gunners almost slipped up in their first match as Liege raced into a two-goal lead against the Premier League club within five minutes in Belgium.
Arsenal eventually fought back to claim a 3-2 win but van Persie believes another careless display against Olympiacos could prove costly. The 26-year-old, who scored the winner at Fulham on Saturday, knows Arsenal's young squad are capable of emulating, or even improving on, last season's semi-final appearance as long as they don't take opponents for granted.
"It is a good draw for us name wise, but as a player you need to produce in every single game because our opponents look at it from a different point of view," Van Persie told Arsenal's magazine. "They will give all they have against us. We need to be ready for that.
They (Olympiacos) will give all they have against us. We need to be ready for that,
"I think we are, because we all know how football works when you do not give 100 per cent - any team can beat you, even a Blue Square League team. When you do not do everything, you are gone. We will do that in this group and have a good chance of going through."
Van Persie was Arsenal's leading scorer last season with 20 goals from 44 appearances, but even the Dutch forward's efforts couldn't stop the Gunners finishing without silverware for a fourth successive season. The trophy drought has convinced some that Arsenal's best days are behind them, but van Persie is determined to help Wenger take the club back to the top in England and Europe.
"I want to give what I hope are my best years to Arsenal, because I love the club and want to succeed here," Van Persie said. "And it is not just about winning trophies - I can say that in the last five years I have won lots of trophies myself as a human, if you see what I mean, as well as footballing achievements.
"The steps I have made from day one to now are, I think, big. I am really just thankful for the chance to have done that - thankful to the fans, the boss, the players, to everyone who has a warm heart for Arsenal. So it is not simply about trophies, it is the whole story of Arsenal giving me lots of positive things. Of course the end result is trophies and I want that - but I am not closing my mind to what is happening day in and day out at this club."
While Arsenal's squad is undoubtedly one of the younger in the UEFA Champions League, van Persie doesn't believe age is an excuse for failing to deliver on their potential. Instead he draws strength from the way players from so many differing backgrounds have bonded together because of their time together in the club's youth academy.
"I do feel our team spirit is at a higher level than most other clubs. Other clubs have lots of egos. We have egos here but the whole squad has good egos and good characters. That is not the case at many other clubs," he added.
"We now have more experience too. There is me, Clichy, Fabregas and Song - we cannot hide behind saying we are inexperienced anymore. It is now about how much we really want it."
www.fifa.com
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Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone was the hero as the Gunners secured an untypically scrappy victory at Fulham.
The Italian made stunning one-handed saves from two Andrew Johnson headers and also parried Zoltan Gera's drive.
Fulham were the better of the two teams, but Arsenal won it when Cesc Fabregas clipped a pass for Robin van Persie to take a touch and fire home.
Mannone pushed away an Andrew Johnson drive and made a superb point-blank save from Bobby Zamora to deny Fulham.
Roy Hodgson's side will wonder how they failed to take anything from the game as they dominated for long periods, but the difference between the two teams was Mannone, the 21-year-old from Desio.
Making his third Premier League appearance, Mannone pulled off a string of magnificent saves to thwart a Fulham strikeforce that has now scored only four goals in six league matches this season.
From the start Fulham were the better team but Mannone, keeping his place in the side with Manuel Almunia still struggling with a virus, enjoyed the performance of his career.
He made a quite-brilliant one-handed save at point-blank range from Johnson's header, before Clint Dempsey's goal-bound follow-up shot cannoned against the keeper's face.
Arsenal looked lethargic and disinterested at times with the returning Andrey Arshavin distinctly off-colour, though both Fabregas and Arshavin should have done better than blaze over from promising positions inside the Fulham box.
But the Cottagers were the game's dominant force and they continued to push Arsenal back deep into their own half as they tried to find a breakthrough.
Unfortunately for them, Mannone was in sparkling form and once again he came to the Gunners' rescue with a fine push away from Gera's low 18-yard drive.
Zamora crashed a shot wide as Fulham signalled their intentions to continue an assault on the Arsenal goal at the start of the second half, but shortly after and totally against the run of play, the visitors went ahead.
They did so in partly due thanks to a mistake as Paul Konchesky gave the ball away but it was also thanks to Fabregas's delightful lofted pass for Van Persie and the Dutchman's fabulous instant control and shot into the far corner.
For a brief moment Arsenal found their A-game and a superb passing move finished with Schwarzer tipping away Nicklas Bendtner's drive, but Fulham soon got back on top.
They piled forward in search for an equaliser but Mannone stuck out a hand to stop Johnson's header from a Zamora cross before Bacary Sagna and William Gallas both made crucial late blocks as Arsenal found themselves under the cosh.
Zamora must have thought he had equalised when he met a free-kick three yards out, but once more his header was parried away thanks to the fabulous reflexes of Mannone.
Arsenal go fifth while Fulham stay 17th, but on this evidence the home side has little to worry about in the way of a relegation battle.
As for the Gunners, they may just have stumbled upon a new hero in the shape of Mannone.
Fulham
* 01 Schwarzer
* 03 Konchesky yellow card
* 04 Pantsil yellow card
* 05 Hangeland
* 18 Hughes
* 13 Murphy yellow card
* 16 Duff (Gera 9)
* 20 Etuhu (Greening 83)
* 23 Dempsey
* 08 Johnson
* 25 Zamora yellow card
Substitutes
* 19 Zuberbuhler,
* 06 Baird,
* 26 Smalling,
* 11 Gera,
* 17 Riise,
* 27 Greening,
* 15 Kamara
Arsenal
* 24 Mannone
* 03 Sagna
* 05 Vermaelen
* 10 Gallas
* 22 Clichy
* 02 Diaby
* 04 Fabregas
* 17 Song Billong
* 23 Arshavin (Rosicky 68)
* 11 Van Persie (Eboue 83)
* 52 Bendtner
Substitutes
* 53 Szczesny,
* 18 Silvestre,
* 27 Eboue,
* 28 Gibbs,
* 07 Rosicky,
* 16 Ramsey,
* 12 Vela
Goals: Van Persie 0-1 '52
Ref: Atkinson
Att: 25700
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Robin van Persie believes that footballers are within their rights to bring fouls to a referee's attention.
The issue of 'simulation' has been high on the agenda ever since Eduardo was charged by UEFA for 'deceiving an official' when he won a penalty in the Champions League play-off against Celtic last month. The Croatian striker's two-match European ban was annulled on appeal but players have been under scrutiny in the weeks since that incident.
Like most football fans, Van Persie finds diving abhorrent. But the Dutchman insists that players should not be castigated for demonstrating to the referee when they have genuinely been fouled.
"It is not my intention to dive" said Van Persie. "I'm against divers because it is not honest.
"But I had a little moment against Manchester United the other week after the whole Eduardo thing. I had the ball on the right side, cut it back and Evra gave me a little push. It put me off balance.
"I fell down and the whole stadium started to boo me but I was like 'come on, Evra pushed me!'.
"I do exaggerate. Sometimes, for example, when you are in the middle of the action, you get a little push and your opponent has finished the attacking action. Then, you are in the right to show the referee you were pushed. That is not diving. That is saying 'come on, this is not honest play from the other players.'
"Sometimes you have a little movement with your arms or your body but I do not believe that is cheating. But it is difficult."
www.arsenal.com
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Robin van Persie wants to move on from the Emmanuel Adebayor incident at Eastlands earlier this month, safe in the knowledge that it was not his fault.
The former Arsenal striker received a three-match ban from the FA for what appeared to be a stamp on Van Persie's head during the Gunners’ 4-2 defeat at Manchester City.
But Van Persie does not want to dwell on the matter.
"Adebayor, what can I say about that?" queried Van Persie.
"My feelings are the same. I don't want to waste any more time on Mr Adebayor. If I look in the mirror, I cannot blame myself."
www.arsenal.com
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If Arsenal Football Club is one big family, Robin van Persie is one of its big brothers.
The Dutchman shed some light on the camaraderie within the squad when he faced the media ahead of this weekend's trip to Fulham.
Van Persie has been at the Club for five-and-a-half years and, like all new signings, needed time to adapt when he landed in London in May 2004. Kolo Toure helped Van Persie find his feet back then and now the 26-year-old is taking the latest crop of Arsenal talent under his experienced wing.
For Van Persie, that brotherly love is what makes Arsenal a special club.
"When I first came to Arsenal, I was 20," he reflected. "Kolo came to me and said 'see me as your older brother. You come from another country, you speak a different language and are a bit nervous'.
"I now say this, along with Gael Clichy, to the youngsters. There is the Dutch guy Nacer Barazite, Jack Wilshere and Armand Traore who still need to find their way, along with Thomas [Vermaelen].
"After two weeks, Thomas said 'you are right, everyone is so nice and kind’.
"I just really like the Club. I really love Arsenal and I want them to succeed. I can be quite hard and other people can be hard on me. It is all about whether we trust each other. That is what is important.
"I speak to my Dutch international colleagues. I do feel our team spirit is at a higher level than most other clubs. Other clubs have lots of egos. We have egos here but the whole squad has good egos and good characters. That is not the case at many other clubs.
"We now have more experience too. There is me, Clichy, Fabregas and Song - we cannot hide behind saying we are inexperienced anymore. It is now about how much we really want it."
www.arsenal.com
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Robin van Persie admits Arsenal need to start taking their chances if they want to fulfil their title potential.
The Gunners enjoyed a blistering start to the season with stunning League wins over Everton and Portsmouth sandwiched between Champions League victories over Celtic.
They were then derailed, however, in controversial clashes at Manchester United and Manchester City.
In both contests Arsenal dominated large periods of the game bur failed to grab the goals to secure the points.
And even in last Saturday's 4-0 win at home to Wigan Arsene Wenger's men still managed to blow a stack of chances to make the scoreline even more emphatic.
Van Persie said: "While there were lots of good things that we did in winning four games, there were a few bad aspects after that and we need to find the right balance to win matches like these.
"When you see the matches against Manchester United and Man City, we had many chances and still lost.
"So we need to look in the mirror and try to do things better.
"But in terms of creating chances, its all good - the formation (4-3-3) really works for the team and I do feel that we could have been a bit luckier with a few things.
"We've seen shots hitting the bar or the post or just going wide and perhaps could have had a bit more luck with refereeing decisions as well."
Van Persie, who signed a new long-term deal at the Emirates in the summer, also believes that despite the club's defeats to the two Manchester giants Arsenal remain the equal of both clubs in the race for the title.
He told the club's official magazine: "You would go for the normal top four and then this year I do think that Man City are strong - but if you have a good game and are solid at the back you can beat them.
"Its the same for Man United and I reckon Chelsea will do well this year - they look very strong.
"When you nick games like they did at Stoke last week, you're going to have a good year.
"When you come out on top in matches like that it really shows you are up for it."
www.mirror.co.uk
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As you maybe know, Arsenal will play tonight against West Bromwich Albion in the Carlin Cup. Arsenal uses this competition mainly to give some minutes to the (young) football players who doesn't play a lot. This means that Robin won't play in this competition. The Carling Cup matches and data will stay in the agenda.
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Robin van Persie paid tribute to Thomas Vermaelen's technical ability in the wake of Arsenal's 4-0 victory over Wigan and said the pair have moved on from any differences they may have had in the past.
The Dutchman came up against Vermaelen when Arsenal played Ajax in the Amsterdam Tournament two years ago and the pair had an on-pitch disagreement during the match.
"He is hard and played very strong on me physically," said Van Persie of the incident. "I was a little bit upset about that. So I told him in nice words!
"Now I'm happy he is on my side now. In training everyone mixes up so I play against him. He is tough and it's good because I am training against proper defenders."
Arsenal's No 11 went on to say he has been impressed by Vermaelen's technical and goalscoring ability since joining the Club in the summer.
"He is raised in Holland," said the 26-year-old. "I am not saying every Dutch player is good technically but when you are raised in Holland - especially at Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV - you are brought up getting the ball, moving it first touch, move again, pass and move. He was at Ajax since he was 15, so it is in his system for a long, long time."
Vermaelen is the surprise name at the top of Arsenal’s scoring charts with four goals so far this season and Van Persie believes that is significant. According to the Dutchman, Arsenal need players who are dangerous in the air.
"The first one [against Wigan] showed he is very, very strong from corners and free kicks and that is very important for us.
"Even if we play badly we can always score from set pieces. I would have been proud of his second goal.”
www.arsenal.com
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Robin van Persie knows he needs to improve his current sharpness in front of goal.
Although he played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Wigan at the weekend, the Dutch striker admitted he spurned too many chances himself. The most obvious example came just on half-time when, unmarked on the penalty spot, he chested down a pass from Cesc Fabregas but could only send a swivelling shot wide.
However, in this case, form is clearly temporary while class is permanent. Van Persie has averaged roughly one goal in every three games during his Arsenal career and was the Club’s top-scorer last season. But with standards that high, his pleasure at Saturday’s result was tempered by the personal chances that went begging.
“It was a very important victory because the last two League games left us with very mixed feelings,” said the 26-year-old. “We all knew it was very important to get the three points and that is what we did. Winning was the only thing that mattered but we played some good football.
“I wasn't so pleased with my own performance though. I just missed too many chances and that is something I have to work on.
“There were a lot of them [on Saturday] especially the one that I controlled on my chest. I was totally free but didn't expect to be. That was my own mistake but it was a very good pass from Cesc. I should have done better but I'm confident it will be OK very soon. Still the main thing was the three points and they were very good for us.”
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Arsenal produced an incisive, attacking display to cruise to a comfortable victory against a lacklustre Wigan.
Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen rose to head the Gunners into the lead from a corner before curling in his second from the edge of the box.
Arsenal's third came when a shot by Eduardo found the net courtesy of a deflection from Emmanuel Eboue, who may well ultimately claim it.
A back-heel finish by Cesc Fabregas in injury time crowned a superb win.
Headlines in the week leading up to the game had been dominated by the fall-out from the more unsavoury aspects of Arsenal's 4-2 defeat at Manchester City.
Seven days on, and without a pumped-up former Gunner in the opposition ranks, Arsenal showcased the authoritative, possession football that is their staple.
However, in the early stages a quality final ball was lacking and the home side were limited to a brace of long-range snap-shots from Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby and a free-kick from the former which flashed past the post.
Van Persie was presented with a better opportunity after 20 minutes when Eboue was released down the right before driving over a cross from near the byline, but the ball was just behind the striker and he was only able to steer a tame effort wide of goal.
After softening up their opponents with these early jabs, Arsenal landed the first hammer blow from which Wigan never recovered. when Van Persie swung over a corner and Vermaelen rose above a trio of Wigan defenders to plant a powerful header past keeper Chris Kirkland.
The Gunners maintained the pressure following the goal and Van Persie again carved out a good opportunity, threading in Eboue behind the Wigan defence on the right but the midfielder's shot flashed across goal.
Having demonstrated his nerves early on with a header outside the area that almost gifted Wigan a chance, young goalkeeper Vito Mannone made a fine save to preserve Arsenal's lead, parrying Emmerson Boyce's six-yard header from a corner.
It was be Wigan's only meaningful effort of a half in which they were lucky not to be trailing by more.
Just prior to the break, Kirkland saved well at the feet of Van Persie as he slid in to meet an Eduardo cross, and moments later the Dutchman failed to connect with a swivelling volley after Fabregas' delicate chip had found him unmarked with his back to goal.
It did not take long for Arsenal to double their lead following the re-start it was again Vermaelen who scored.
The Belgian brought the ball forward, found Eboue on the right and continued his run to enable him to meet the return pass before curling a superb shot into the top-right corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Arsenal's midweek match-winner Eduardo was the central figure in the third goal, striking a post with a volley from a Gael Clichy cross before driving in a follow-up effort which found the net courtesy of a telling deflection off Eboue.
So often limited in the game by his role as Arsenal's midfield anchor, Alexandre Song shook off the shackles and was almost rewarded for it when he collected the ball on the half-way line and drove forward before unleashing a shot that struck the outside of the post.
So few were Wigan's chances to score that it seemed almost cruel when substitute Paul Scharner side-footed home following Mannone's save from a Jason Scotland shot, only for the Austrian to be adjudged offside.
It would have been more than the away side deserved though and their misery was compounded in injury time when Van Persie found substitute Nicklas Bendtner on the right and his drilled cross was back-heeled into the net by Fabregas.
Arsenal
* 24 Mannone
* 03 Sagna
* 05 Vermaelen
* 10 Gallas
* 22 Clichy
* 27 Eboue yellow card (Rosicky 73)
* 02 Diaby (Ramsey 66)
* 04 Fabregas
* 17 Song Billong yellow card
* 09 Eduardo (Bendtner 73)
* 11 Van Persie
Substitutes
* 53 Szczesny,
* 18 Silvestre,
* 28 Gibbs,
* 07 Rosicky,
* 16 Ramsey,
* 19 Wilshere,
* 52 Bendtner
Wigan Athletic
* 01 Kirkland
* 17 Boyce
* 19 Bramble
* 25 Melchiot
* 31 Figueroa
* 06 Thomas
* 10 Koumas (Scharner 57) yellow card
* 14 N'Zogbia
* 15 Gomez yellow card (Scotland 57)
* 27 Diame
* 20 Rodallega (Sinclair 87)
Substitutes
* 12 Pollitt,
* 03 Edman,
* 07 Scharner,
* 05 Cho,
* 16 Sinclair,
* 09 Scotland,
* 30 King
Goals: Vermaelen 1-0 '25, 2-0 '49, Eduardo 3-0 '59, Fabregas 4-0 '90
Ref: Jones
Att: 59103
www.bbc.co.uk
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Robin van Persie has been passed fit to face Wigan Athletic at the weekend.
The Dutch international missed the midweek win at Standard Liege with a knee injury but he will make an immediate return on Saturday.
However, that’s as good as it gets on the injury front for Arsenal.
Andrey Arshavin – given a 10 per cent chance of facing Wigan when Arsène Wenger spoke to Arsenal TV Online yesterday - will not play on Saturday. And Manuel Almunia is not match fit, although he is back in training after a chest infection.
“We have Robin van Persie available compared to the game on Wednesday night,” confirmed Wenger. “He is the only player coming back.
“Arshavin will be available next week. Almunia is back in training but will not play tomorrow.”
Arsenal are still without Theo Walcott (back), Samir Nasri (leg), Lukasz Fabianski, Johan Djourou (both knee) and Carlos Vela (ankle). But they will soon be able to call upon Philippe Senderos, who appeared for the Reserves this week and is now pushing for a first-team place.
“Philippe will not play tomorrow, but he will play on Tuesday night [in the Carling Cup],” said Wenger.
“He is just coming back into competition now. After that, if he does not start the games, we will rotate and he will be involved again.”
www.arsenal.com
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Vito Mannone or Wojciech Szczesny will make their Champions League debut on Wednesday night after Manuel Almunia was ruled out of Arsenal's clash with Standard Liege.
The Spanish goalkeeper is suffering from a chest infection and has not travelled to Belgium. Neither have Robin van Persie and Denilson, both of whom sustained injuries during Saturday's 4-2 defeat at Manchester City. However they have a chance of returning for this weekend's Premier League clash with Wigan.
"Manuel Almunia is sick so he will not be with us," revealed Wenger before flying out with his 18-man squad.
"From Saturday we lost Robin van Persie with a knee problem but it is a question of days for him [until he is fit]. As for Denilson, I took him off on Saturday for a back problem. It is a question of days again for him."
Theo Walcott will not return for the group stage opener but Sanchez Watt has been named in the squad. The 18-year-old forward impressed at the Emirates Cup in August and could make his competitive debut on Wednesday.
Arsenal are still without Samir Nasri (leg), Andrey Arshavin (groin), Lukasz Fabianski, Johan Djourou (both knee) and Carlos Vela (ankle).
www.arsenal.com
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Robin van Persie has won the AISA (Arsenal Independent Supporters' Association) Player of the Season award for 2008-09, whilst Keiran Gibbs has been voted Young Player of the Season.
We want to congratulate Robin with his new award.
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Robin van Persie has issued the following statement following an incident with Emmanuel Adebayor at Saturday's game:
"I am sad and disappointed by my former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor's mindless and malicious stamp on me during today's match.
"We are both professional footballers and I know that the game is physical, I too have made hard and sometimes mis-timed challenges but never with the intention of hurting an opponent. He set out to hurt me today.
"I knew he was aiming for a collision because he changed the angle of his body to allow contact to be made. He moved backwards when his natural momentum would have taken him forward. I find that deeply disrespectful. He has shown a real lack of class today, to me and the fans.
"I do feel lucky that I have not suffered a greater injury. The contact was only centimetres from my eye. I have not received an apology from him, there were no words exchanged afterwards. He had his own agenda today and that is bad for football. It's bad for the game we all love.
"I want to make it clear that this has nothing to do with the result of today's match. We do not hide from that disappointment but I need to speak out about his behaviour."
www.arsenal.com
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Emmanuel Adebayor silenced the taunts of Arsenal fans as he inspired Manchester City to a fourth successive Premier League victory - but sparked fury among his former supporters inside Eastlands with a provocative solo goal celebration.
Adebayor caused chaotic scenes in the Arsenal section of support when he raced the length of the pitch to slide on his knees in front of the visiting fans after heading City's crucial third goal to wrap up the win.
The former Arsenal striker, who completed an acrimonious £25.5m move from the Emirates before the start of the season, was booked by referee Mark Clattenburg and may not have heard the last of an ill-judged reaction after the situation in the crowd briefly threatened to boil over.
Adebayor also appeared to kick out at Robin van Persie during an eventful second-half and his antics took some of the gloss off a City performance that demonstrated there is genuine substance to the expensive refit of their squad under manager Mark Hughes.
City took the lead after 20 minutes when Micah Richards' header was unluckily deflected in by Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia off an upright.
Van Persie put Arsenal back in contention with a low finish just after the hour - but City then struck three times in 10 minutes to add to the growing belief inside Eastlands that they can mount a serious challenge to the top four this season.
Craig Bellamy turned Richards' cross past Almunia before Adebayor showed the more acceptable face of his character with a towering header from Shaun Wright-Phillips' cross.
Eastlands was in pandemonium when Wright-Phillips turned home City's fourth, and Tomas Rosicky's late goal mattered little as Arsenal collapsed in alarming fashion.
If City and boss Hughes were looking for an accurate measure of their prospects this season, then this deserved win will send optimism coursing through Eastlands.
City showed attacking verve, especially in the shape of Adebayor and Bellamy - even with Carlos Tevez injured and Robinho sidelined for up to a month with a stress fracture just above his ankle - but perhaps more importantly showed the character to dig their way out of adversity when Arsenal threatened to take control.
And with a Manchester derby looming at Old Trafford next Sunday, City will travel to face their arch-rivals in great heart.
Adebayor received a predictably hostile reception from Arsenal's travelling support - and his former team-mates looked in the mood to make him regret what he had left behind in the opening exchanges.
Manchester City, with £24m new boy Joleon Lescott taking time to settle on his home debut and earning a yellow card for a foul on Van Persie, struggled to establish any control and should have fallen behind when the unmarked William Gallas headed over from Cesc Fabregas' corner.
The complexion of the game altered when City took the lead in fortuitous circumstances after 20 minutes. Richards did well to rise and head powerfully towards goal, but the final touch came off unfortunate Arsenal keeper Alumnia, who turned his effort on to an upright but then saw it bounce back in off his head.
Arsenal's early superiority evaporated in the face of that setback and City were able to exert a measure of superiority without putting the Gunners' defence under serious pressure.
Boss Arsene Wenger wasted no time in making a change after the interval, waiting only seven minutes before replacing Denilson with Rosicky after the injury-plagued star played his first competitive match for 20 months in the Czech Republic's 7-0 win against San Marino in midweek.
The effect was almost instant - even though Rosicky was not involved. Gallas again met a corner, this time from Van Persie, but City keeper Shay Given made a vital block and Nicklas Bendtner shot the rebound wildly across the face of goal.
Arsenal were turning up the tempo and playing on City's inability to keep possession, with Given forced to excel again from Thomas Vermaelen's shot.
The pressure looked certain to pay, and so it proved after 62 minutes when Van Persie's low shot flew just beyond the reach of Given and into the bottom corner.
City showed great strength of character to regain their composure, and the lead, with 16 minutes left as Bellamy swept a finish high past Almunia.
The moment Adebayor craved arrived after 80 minutes - but it was a moment of joy the striker marred with a celebration that was both foolish and highly-provocative.
He rose magnificently to head his fourth goal in successive league games past Almunia, but then sprinted the length of the field, unaccompanied by his team mates, to slide on his knees in front of enraged Arsenal fans.
It was an act that caused chaos in the Arsenal section of Eastlands as order was eventually restored - but Adebayor was rightly shown the yellow card by referee Mark Clattenburg.
Arsenal's misery deepened four minutes later when Wright-Phillips rounded off more good work from the tireless Bellamy, and Rosicky's late goal was of no consolation.
City's fans celebrated wildly and deservedly at the final whistle, but it will be the celebration of Adebayor that will also claim unwanted headlines.
Manchester City
* 01 Given
* 02 Richards
* 03 Bridge
* 19 Lescott yellow card
* 28 Toure
* 07 Ireland (Petrov 73)
* 08 Wright-Phillips
* 18 Barry
* 34 De Jong yellow card
* 25 Adebayor yellow card
* 39 Bellamy
Substitutes
* 12 Taylor,
* 04 Onuoha,
* 05 Zabaleta,
* 16 Sylvinho,
* 36 Vidal,
* 17 Petrov,
* 40 Weiss
Arsenal
* 01 Almunia
* 03 Sagna yellow card (Eboue 77)
* 05 Vermaelen
* 10 Gallas
* 22 Clichy
* 02 Diaby
* 04 Fabregas
* 15 Denilson (Rosicky 52)
* 17 Song Billong yellow card (Eduardo 77)
* 11 Van Persie
* 52 Bendtner
Substitutes
* 24 Mannone,
* 18 Silvestre,
* 27 Eboue,
* 28 Gibbs,
* 07 Rosicky,
* 16 Ramsey,
* 09 Eduardo
Goals: Almunia (og) 1-0 '20, Van Persie 1-1 '62, Bellamy 2-1 '74, Adebayor 3-1 '80, Wright-Phillips 4-1 '84, Rosicky (pen) 4-2 '88.
Ref: Clattenburg
Att: 47339
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Robin van Persie has had a swipe at big-spending Manchester City by insisting: Money can't buy you a team.
Arsenal visited Eastlands Saturday and hitman van Persie reckons huge price tags turn players into individuals under pressure and harms team spirit.
He rapped: "At Arsenal we'd never buy a player who costs £40 or £50million.
"If you look at clubs who have spent that kind of money then I don't see them playing as a team.
"If you look at our transfer policy then you can see how players respond when the manager puts faith in them."
City tried to buy Brazilian playmaker Kaka in a £100m deal and splashed more than £30m on Robinho.
But Van Persie is unimpressed. He insisted: "If you think of yourself as part of a group then you are prepared to work hard for results together.
"A £40m player feels pressure. They are going to be judged more than some guy who has come from the youth policy and then he thinks in terms of one person and not the team."
Van Persie reckons Gunners chief Arsene Wenger's approach is proof that clubs do not have to fork out huge sums.
He added: "We have made a good start to the season and you can see how players like Alexandre Song and Denilson and Abou Diaby have responded.
"They are playing better because the manager believes in them."
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Scotland's World Cup dream ended as a late Eljero Elia goal gave Group Nine winners Netherlands victory despite a brave effort from George Burley's side.
Dirk Kuyt struck the Scots' post early on, while Kenny Miller fired against the Dutch crossbar.
A Steven Naismith shot struck a Dutch post and Miller's effort on the rebound was saved by Michel Vorm.
But the Dutch made it eight wins out of eight when Elia pounced on David Weir's mistake to run clear and score.
And so the dream died with nine minutes left on the ninth day of the ninth month of 2009.
It had been a terrific performance by the Scots, but Elia's strike meant that Norway clinched the runners-up spot after their 2-1 victory over Macedonia - and raises question marks about the future of manager Burley.
Both sides had been forced to do without their first-choice goalkeepers, Scotland's Craig Gordon and Holland's Maarten Stekelenburg failing fitness tests earlier in the day.
David Marshall came into the home side after losing 11 goals in his previous three internationals and nearly conceded another within minutes of the kick-off.
Kuyt fired a snap shot from 20 yards that struck the outside of the far post before the ball bounced clear.
Scotland soaked up that early pressure and ought to have opened the scoring after nine minutes.
Alan Hutton's superb early cross found Scott Brown sneaking unmarked into the box, but the midfielder skewed his half-volley just wide from eight yards.
Wesley Sneijder had recovered from an injury picked up against Japan to start for the Dutch and forced Marshall into his first save after 24 minutes with a 22-yard drive that the keeper did well to turn over the crossbar.
That sparked the visitors into life and Scotland were split open by a fine through ball from Robin van Persie, but Marshall did superbly to block Arjen Robben's low effort from 14 yards.
The home side responded and Miller fired a volley off the underside of the crossbar from a difficult angle wide on the right.
Naismith, playing wide on the right in his first Scotland start, had the ball in the net off the far post but was pulled up for offside - a narrow but probably correct decision.
The Rangers forward struck the post with his next effort after 38 minutes, his low drive being turned on to the post by Vorm and Miller should have found the net from eight yards only for the goalkeeper to recover and turn the ball to safety.
Scotland were under pressure at the start of the second half and the Dutch went close twice.
Kuyt headed over from a good position following a corner then Marshall somehow managed to block the ball with his body after Robben had turned Hutton inside the box before letting fly from 10 yards.
Burley, who had made five changes to his side for the match, withdrew holding midfielder Paul Hartley and brought on winger Kris Commons and pushed Naismith forward as he went all out for the win the Scots so desperately needed.
It almost paid off immediately, with Miller being unlucky not to break the deadlock after 69 minutes when his snap shot struck the fortunate Vorm and spun clear of the goalkeeper's far post.
Scotland's hopes were dashed when Weir was caught flat-footed by a long clearance out of the Dutch defence and the centre-back's poor header was pounced on by Elia, who coolly rounded Marshall to score.
Substitute Garry O'Connor went close with a first-time attempt to lob Vorm, but yet another Scottish qualification campaign ended in disappointment as the Dutch became the first side in 28 years to finish the qualification campaign with a 100% record.
Scotland: Marshall, Hutton, Weir, McManus, Whittaker, Hartley (Commons 67), Naismith, Brown, Darren Fletcher, Maloney (O'Connor 83), Miller.
Subs Not Used: Neil Alexander, Graham Alexander, Gary Caldwell, Steven Fletcher, Rae.
Booked: Naismith, Hartley, Darren Fletcher.
Netherlands: Vorm, Van Der Wiel, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Sneijder (Van der Vaart 77), De Zeeuw, De Jong, Robben (Elia 73), van Persie (Huntelaar 84), Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Velthuizen, Heitinga, Schaars, Braafheid.
Booked: van Persie, Kuyt, Robben.
Goals: Elia 82.
Att: 51,230
Ref: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark)
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Japan frustrated Holland for over an hour in Saturday afternoon's international friendly in Enschede before late goals from Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar secured victory for Bert van Marwijk's team.
The first half was a cagey affair between two teams who should be in relaxed mode having already qualified for next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.
But it took until the 69th minute for the deadlock to be broken by Arsenal forward Van Persie, with Inter Milan midfielder Sneijder doubling the hosts' lead four minutes later and AC Milan forward Huntelaar sealing matters three minutes from time.
Sneijder could have opened the scoring as early as the third minute when he fired in a 25-yard free-kick but his effort was comfortably dealt with by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
The visitors were restricted to long-range efforts from Keiji Tamada, Shinji Okazaki and Makoto Hasebe, none of which tested Oranje stopper Michel Vorm.
Van Persie carved out several opportunities for himself as the half wore on, first lashing over the bar twice and then seeing a right-footed blast caught by Kawashima two minutes before the break.
Gregory van der Wiel also tried his luck before half-time but failed to get his right-footed effort on target from 30 yards as the teams headed in at the interval goalless.
Espanyol's former Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura came within a whisker of giving Japan a shock lead just after the hour when his left-footed free-kick was tipped over the bar by Piet Velthuizen, a half-time replacement for Vorm.
Back at the other end, Kawashima too was forced to tip over his bar to keep out a right-footed free-kick from Dutch substitute Eljero Elia.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 69th minute, when Hamburg winger Elia fed Van Persie to lift the ball into the top-left corner from close range.
Before the Japanese visitors had time to regroup Holland were two goals to the good as Sneijder latched onto Demy de Zeeuw's right-wing cross and despatched a right-footed volley into the top-right corner.
Kawashima had to be alert to prevent it quickly becoming 3-0, the Japan stopper punching to safety from Sneijder's 25-yarder.
Sneijder then had to be replaced by his former Real Madrid team-mate Rafael van der Vaart 12 minutes through time due to a knee injury, which may prove a blow for the Dutch ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Scotland.
Huntelaar, on in place of Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt on the hour, smashed a volley just wide from Van der Vaart's corner 12 minutes from time as the Oranje continued to push for a third.
And it finally arrived three minutes from time. Elia was again the provider, supplying Huntelaar who slotted into the bottom-right corner.
Netherlands
* Vorm (Velthuizen 46)
* Van der Wiel
* Loovens
* Mathijsen
* Van Bronckhorst
* De Jong yellow card
* Mendes da Silva (De Zeeuw 63)
* Van Persie
* Sneijder yellow card (Van der Vaart 79)
* Robben (Elia 46)
* Kuyt (Huntelaar 63)
Substitutes
* Velthuizen,
* Heitinga,
* Braafheid,
* De Zeeuw,
* Schaars,
* Van der Vaart,
* Elia,
* Babel,
* Huntelaar
Japan
* Kawashima
* Uchida
* Tanaka
* Nakazawa
* Nagatomo
* Endo
* Hasebe
* Tamada (Honda 46)
* S. Nakamura yellow card (Koroki 71)
* K. Nakamura yellow card
* Okazaki
Substitutes
* Unknown
Goals: Van Persie 1-0 '69, Sneijder 2-0 '73, Huntelaar 3-0 '87
Ref: Skomina (Slovenia)
Att: 23750
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