Source: Team_Talk
RVP: Patience paid off for Gunners
The Greek champions had goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis to thank for preventing Arsenal chalking up a big score in a one-sided contest at Emirates Stadium.[LNB]Olympiacos were eventually undone with 12 minutes to go when Eduardo set up Van Persie before Andrey Arshavin made sure of the win when he netted a cheeky backheel.[LNB]"The boss told us to be patient [at half-time] and our moment would come, and so it did," said Van Persie, who admitted his team had come up against a formidable opponent in the shape of veteran Nikopolidis, who denied Thomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas among others.[LNB]"He's a good goalkeeper," Van Persie added to Sky Sports. "I think he's 38 or something, so he's got a lot of experience.[LNB]"He had a really good game tonight."[LNB]Asked about how he felt the Gunners' season was shaping in general, the Holland international replied: "Quite well. We have played eight or nine games and lost two, and every other game we won, so it's not too bad.[LNB]"We're still not there yet, but we are on our way."[LNB]Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hailed the performance of his players as "outstanding" but conceded it was difficult to see so many chances go begging.[LNB]"I believe we played a great first half and we had plenty of chances," said the Frenchman, who later this week will become the longest-serving manager in the history of Arsenal.[LNB]"You always want your team to take every chance but it is not always possible.[LNB]"But I'm encouraged as well because to dominate the game like we did at that level is something outstanding.[LNB]"Of course it's frustrating that we didn't take complete advantage of it, but it's very positive."[LNB]Wenger was particularly pleased his players had enough in the tank to win the game late on despite their tough Premier League over Fulham at the weekend.[LNB]"We had a very physical game at Fulham on Saturday, and I think in the end the legs were a bit heavy in the second half, but we maintained because we wanted so much to win the game," he added.[LNB]Two games now follow against Champions League first-timers AZ Alkmaar, who have yet to win in Group H, and Wenger has called on his players to make swift work of their progression to the knockout stage.[LNB]"We now have two games against Alkmaar, so let's try to qualify quickly," he said.[LNB][LNB]
