Van Persie bides his time for Gunners slot

ARSENAL striker Robin van Persie may have seemingly disappeared without trace since his £2.75 million summer signing but he insists he is happy to wait for his first-team chance.

The Holland U21 international scored three times during Arsenal’s pre-season games, while he also appeared as a half-time substitute in the Community Shield victory against Manchester United.

However, the nearest he has come to first-team action for the Gunners since then are two unused substitute roles in the Premiership game against Middlesbrough and the midweek Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven.

Van Persie, 21, said there is an element of frustration but he insisted: “Since the Community Shield, I’ve been on the bench or not in the team. It’s frustrating as I want to play, but I knew coming to Arsenal meant I’d have to be patient.”