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.