Source: Team_Talk
Van Persie wary of Euro rivals
The draw for the opening group stages of the Champions League was kind to the Gunners, who had to come through a two-leg qualifier against Celtic, throwing up clashes with Standard Liege, Dutch new comer AZ Alkmaar and Greek side Olympiakos, the visitors to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.[LNB]Arsene Wenger's men, however, faced a tough opening Group H fixture at the compact Maurice Dufrasne Stadium, where a blistering start from the Belgians left Arsenal 2-0 down inside the first five minutes before battling back to win with a late goal from Eduardo.[LNB]Van Persie, 26, accepts Arsenal cannot afford to take any challenge lightly if they are to go one better than last season's semi-final appearance.[LNB]"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 the October edition of the official Arsenal magazine.[LNB]"They will give all they have against us. We need to be ready for that.[LNB]"I think we are, because we all know how football works when you do not give 100% - any team can beat you, even a Blue Square League team.[LNB]"When you do not do everything, you are gone.[LNB]"We will do that in this group and have a good chance of gong through."[LNB]Holland international Van Persie was Arsenal's leading scorer last season with 20 goals from 44 appearances.[LNB]During the summer there was speculation linking him with a move away from Emirates Stadium, perhaps even to rivals Manchester United, before Van Persie committed to the Arsenal cause by agreeing a new long-term deal reportedly worth around £80,000-a-week and so becoming one of the highest paid players at the club in the process.[LNB]Van Persie insists leaving was "not a serious issue" and has vowed to help Arsenal end their four-season trophy drought - a barren run which must have seemed inconceivable when the young Dutchman arrived five years ago at a club then sweeping all before them.[LNB]It is, though, not always just about silverware.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"The steps I have made from day one to now are, I think, big.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"So it is not simply about trophies, it is the whole story of Arsenal giving me lots of positive things.[LNB]"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."[LNB][LNB][LNB] To Progress the Furthest Progress Furthest: Arsenal 7/2
