Robin reliant to the rescue again

ARSENE WENGER has always disliked the accusation that Arsenal are a one-man team, whether it be from the days of Thierry Henry or Cesc Fabregas, or now with Robin Van Persie.

Yet it’s hard to get away from the fact that Wenger’s side are incredibly reliant on this particular Robin, whose second-half intervention as a substitute proved decisive yesterday.

Van Persie scored twice in seven minutes after replacing the hapless Marouane Chamakh in the 67th minute, putting an end to the stubborn but unspectacular resistance of Stoke, who have now lost all four of their games at the Emirates Stadium.