Van Persie revives Gunners career

Arsenal 3 Blackburn 0

Bloodied but unbowed, Robin van Persie took a decisive step in rebuilding his Arsenal career as he produced the late inspiration to seal his side’s place in the FA Cup final.

Just a few weeks earlier, his future was put on the line by a loss of self-control in being sent off at Southampton as the two dropped points applied the final blow to their title challenge.

The 21-year-old Dutchman was lambasted by boss Arsene Wenger, who could not contain his frustration as he trudged disconsolately past him on the way back to the dressing-room.

However, the Arsenal boss has since been heartened by van Persie’s response in seeking to cut out the “flashiness” from his game.

Not even a cut lip, when he ran into Andy Todd’s seemingly extended arm, could hide the striker’s delight at his two goals in a brief but spectacular cameo role as a substitute against Blackburn in Cardiff.

After all, having played his part in ruining Arsenal’s league campaign, he had emerged as the hero in keeping their season alive in the FA Cup, securing their fourth final appearance in five years.

Wenger observed: “He is bleeding but he is okay. He’s a great talent and I have never doubted his ability or class.

“He’s certainly one of the best in Europe and one of the closest to a young Dennis Bergkamp. The question mark was how he could lose the flashy way of playing the game.

“But he has shown that in the past two months in training and I hope he will keep doing it as he’s a fantastic talent.”

Indeed, it may yet prove that van Persie’s dismissal at Southampton is the turning-point of his Arsenal career after previously rather flattering to deceive.

“Until then, he was mentally stationary in the way that he approached the game. But since then, he has changed and I hope forever,” added Wenger.

“Great players respect the game and he wasn’t always respecting the game. It’s more difficult when you have big talent as you can do the little tricks.

“But he has improved in putting the game first and himself afterwards. I think he’s sorted that out himself, although Dennis has had a word with him too.”

While Robert Pires put Arsenal ahead just before half-time in Cardiff and Patrick Vieira was an inspirational figure throughout, van Persie made certain of victory with four minutes left.

And what a goal it was. Having replaced Bergkamp just three minutes earlier, van Persie did a more than passable impersonation of his compatriot at his very best.

Having twisted past Lucas Neill, he swept past Todd before picking his spot inside the far post. As if to hammer home the point of his conversion just a few minutes later, he converted Pires’ cross to make it 3-0.

“You can’t give that to a player. In defence, you have one or two seconds to make a decision and can teach someone what to do. But in the final third, it’s down to inspiration,” stressed Wenger.

While van Persie was trying to rebuild his career, Blackburn seemed more intent on something of a demolition job in attempting to dismantle Arsenal’s creative influences.

It was effective, if undeniably ugly, for the first half-hour as Vieira was targeted for particular attention, but Arsenal responded to the challenge.

Although Brad Friedel denied Pires and Jose Antonio Reyes with a superb double-save, he was unable to foil Pires after an excellent turn and cross by Kolo Toure.

In the second-half, Blackburn were constantly caught out on the break and although Friedel twice denied Cesc Fabregas, van Persie proved their undoing even in the absence of Thierry Henry.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes was thereafter forced into yet another defence of his side’s physical approach, which is seemed rather better suited to a relegation battle than an FA Cup semi-final.

“We tried to make it difficult and we did that in the first-half, when we were the better side but went in 1-0 down, which was harsh,” he insisted.

“In the second-half, we found it hard to get any momentum in the game. Towards the end, we had to go for it and Arsenal have the quality to exploit any space that you leave.”

Wenger was still left frustrated by Blackburn’s approach but Hughes insisted: “We had a game plan to try and compete and that’s what we did. I don’t think we need to be criticised for that.”

That seemed rather wishful thinking but then maybe anything is possible. Just ask Robin van Persie.