Source: SKY_Sports
Van Persie bullish over run-in
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie believes the team's experience of handling pressure should ensure they hold off the challenge of Aston Villa.
The Gunners have recently leapfrogged the Midlanders into the UEFA Champions League places, and hold a three-point advantage with eight games of the season remaining.
Villa's rise has been dramatic this season while Arsenal have regularly competed amongst the top four, and Van Persie believes these factors will hand his side the edge in the run-in.
The 25-year-old told Sky Sports News: "We are going from strength to strength. And that is what we want.
"We are still in the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League, and we are in fourth spot now. So I think things are looking quite good now.
"Definitely (we can hold off Villa). We are three points ahead now. Aston Villa did a really good job, but if you look at the history, in my opinion, we can handle the pressure better than them.
"We are used to the pressure. Lots of things can still happen, but I am quite confident."
The Dutchman also suggested Arsenal are now targeting third place, adding: "I am a positive guy. We are six points behind Chelsea and we still have to play them. We need a really good run. Anything is possible in football."
Arsene Wenger's charges have been drawn against Spanish side Villarreal in the last eight of the Champions League, and Van Persie believes the North London side have been handed an excellent chance of reaching the semi-finals.
He continued: "We don't just want to feature in the Champions League, we want to win it. If you look at our draw, I think it was a good one.
"If we could have picked one team, I think we would have picked Villarreal. We are quite happy with it. We will see how it goes."
