Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Wenger relies on Robin

01 Oct 2006 - 11:25:30

Click To Enlarge

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had Robin van Persie to thank as he celebrated his decade in charge of the Gunners with a 2-1 win at Charlton Athletic.

Netherlands international van Persie escaped a red card for kicking out at Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink during the first half at The Valley, before going on to net both goals for his side - the winner a spectacular left-foot volley from 20 yards.

Wenger said after the victory: "He scored an unbelievable goal. It was a goal of a lifetime.

"Nobody expected that when the ball went in the box because I did not see anyone in the box.

"I thought the ball was going over the bar. It was certainly one of the best goals I have seen.

"It is in the top five. Technically it was perfect, with pace and power.

"Just after the incident with Hasselbaink, I waited a bit to see how he responded to it.

"That is football - if I had substituted him, people would have said yes I did the right thing, if he got sent off people would have said I was stupid.

"That shows that as a manager you need luck as well because I kept him on and he scored two goals."