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.

This was Arsenal’s 100th Premier League at their new home, and Van Persie’s double meant he has scored 34 of their 200 league goals in that time. His stats for the current year are even more impressive. He has now scored 30 times in 36 games this year, and 25 of Arsenal’s 48 league goals in 2011 – more than 50 per cent.

So although Tony Pulis admitted he had a spring in his step when he saw Van Persie’s name missing from the starting line-up, it was as nothing to compared to Wenger’s relief when the Dutchman passed a late fitness test to enable him to play any part.

A run of four games in the space of 12 days for Holland and Arsenal left the striker struggling with ‘muscular tightness’ according to his manager, and it was only after a medical check yesterday morning that he was cleared to appear on the substitute’s bench.

His replacement, Chamakh, is woefully short of goals and confidence, and it showed when the Moroccan missed a sitter in the sixth minute, heading wide from close range.

Gervinho looked Arsenal’s liveliest forward, and was only denied an early goal when his poor chest control allowed Asmir Begovic to grab the ball after the Ivorian had got behind the Stoke defence.

But Gervinho made amends when he opened the scoring with a delightful goal in the 27th minute. Aaron Ramsey started the move with a finely-placed pass over Stoke’s static back four, and Gervinho stole in to finish decisively with a low shot.

But instead of giving Arsenal the confidence to push on, they started to get nervous and let Stoke back into the game with a goal that was, defensively, a comedy of errors.

Peter Crouch, always a handful in aerial challenges, won a free-kick controversially when Laurent Koscielny beat him to a header midway inside Arsenal’s half. The home supporters and players were so engrossed in their protests that they failed to spot Ryan Shawcross make a run beyond the far post, where he met Glenn Whelan’s deep free-kick with a firm header back into the goalmouth. Matthew Upson flicked the ball up with his outstretched leg, Jon Walters then headed it back into the centre of goal, and Crouch had the simple job of volleying home unmarked from two yards.

The former Tottenham striker was all smiles, but Wenger was furious with his side for losing concentration.

For the rest of the half, and after the break, Stoke looked comfortable, until Van Persie entered the fray — and he wasted no time in making an impact.

Gervinho started the move with a thrilling run in from the right wing, and when he crossed towards the near post, Van Persie got ahead of Upson to divert the ball home with his trusty left-foot.

Nine minutes later it was 3-1, again with Gervinho the provider, coming in from the opposite win to cut the ball back, but this time Van Persie scored with his right foot. Each time Begovic got his hands to the ball and perhaps should have done better than allow it to cross the line, but there was little doubt about Van Persie’s goal power, and at the final whistle the home supporters were on their feet applauding him off the pitch, with their side up to seventh in the table, their highest position thus far this season.