Wenger a big fan of Van

ARSENE WENGER hailed Robin van Persie for the mental strength in emerging from his summer ordeal in jail to emerge as Dennis Bergkamp’s possible long-term successor at Arsenal.

Van Persie was jailed for two weeks in his native Holland during an investigation into rape allegations which he strenuously denied. The case is still open, although Wenger is hoping it will be concluded at a hearing scheduled to take place later this month.

Van Persie has, nevertheless, recovered from an uncertain start to the season with a rich vein of form, scoring eight goals in his past eight games - just two less than in the whole of his first season last year.

Wenger said: “Last season, he looked a bit weaker physically to adapt to the English game. He was on the way towards the end of last season, scoring some goals and showing more presence.

“Then he had a setback during the summer when he was in jail for two weeks. It took him some time to recover from that. Since then, he has become more mature and stronger.”

The 22-year-old Dutch international has emerged as a genuine candidate to ease the blow when Bergkamp retires at the end of this season.

“I still worry about losing Dennis, even if Robin is coming on now,” admitted Wenger. “His experience and consistency will be difficult to find again and his quality will be nearly impossible to find again.

“The biggest part with players like Robin is to integrate them into the first team and to be patient because you’re always under pressure to buy.”

As it is, van Persie has flourished at Arsenal, having seen his temperament questioned last season after being rashly sent off at Southampton.

Just like Thierry Henry, he is another example of a winger converted into an international central striker.

“It’s quite strange as he was educated as a winger and played at Feyenoord only as a winger. I tried at the start to play him as a winger but felt he didn’t really have that game, so I put him more central,” revealed Wenger.

It remains to be seen whether van Persie or Bergkamp starts alongside Henry at Bolton today, with van Persie having played in the Carling Cup tie against Reading in midweek.

Arsenal have struggled against Bolton in the past, but Wenger is confident his side can keep up the pressure on leaders Chelsea, even at a distance.

“We’ve had two big tests - Wigan was the first one because we’d not won away from home - and now Bolton because they are always committed games.

“But the title race is a bit more open than it was a few weeks ago.”

Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf could return from suspension. Stelios Giannakopoulos and Henrik Pedersen may be recalled while Nicky Hunt is set for another run out.