Van Persie handed start for Gunners

Arsene Wenger handed Arsenal’s Dutch striker Robin van Persie his first Barclays Premiership start on a bitterly cold afternoon at Portsmouth where the managerless home side were bidding to extend an unbeaten league run to five matches since Harry Redknapp left for neighbouring Southampton.

Van Persie, who had already scored three goals for the Gunners, was chosen as Thierry Henry’s partner over compatriot Dennis Bergkamp and exciting Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes whose countryman Manuel Almunia continued in goal.

Skipper Patrick Vieira returned from suspension.

Injuries deprived Pompey of Diomansy Kamara, Dejan Stefanovic and David Unsworth but midfielder Nigel Quashie was back on the bench along with eight-goal striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu who had been out six games with a knee injury.

Portsmouth: Ashdown, Griffin, De Zeeuw, Primus, Taylor, Stone, O’Neil, Faye, Berger, LuaLua, Fuller. Subs: Hislop, Berkovic, Quashie, Cisse, Yakubu.

Arsenal: Almunia, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Pires, Flamini, Vieira, Clichy, Van Persie, Henry. Subs: Lehmann, Bergkamp, Fabregas, Senderos, Hoyte.

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)