Last-gasp van Persie keeps United in FA Cup

Updated January 06, 2013 08:39:51

Substitute Robin van Persie netted a dramatic injury-time equaliser as Manchester United clung to life in the FA Cup third round by rescuing a 2-2 draw at West Ham United.

Tom Cleverley had given the visitors a 23rd-minute lead at Upton Park, but Joe Cole, making his first West Ham appearance since his return from Liverpool, twice set up James Collins to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.

Alex Ferguson's side were drifting towards a second third-round exit in three seasons, after a 1-0 loss to Leeds United in 2010, until van Persie finished from Ryan Giggs' raking pass to take the tie to a replay.

Earlier, debutant Demba Ba scored twice as holders Chelsea roared back from behind to beat Southampton away from home 5-1.

Ba, who signed from Newcastle on Friday, cancelled out Jay Rodriguez's 22nd-minute opener and then added a second as Chelsea ran riot, with Victor Moses, Branislav Ivanovic and substitute Frank Lampard also on target.

"It is always important for a striker to score goals, but more than just the goals was his contribution for the team," Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez said.

"His movement and understanding of things we were wanting to do was really good. He was very clever and he could understand the movement of the players. He did everything well on the pitch."

Premier League champions Manchester City enjoyed a similarly straightforward afternoon against second-tier Watford, with Carlos Tevez scoring a ferocious free-kick before Gareth Barry and Marcos Lopez completed a 3-0 success.

The third round had opened with an upset as second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion beat Newcastle 2-0 to knock Alan Pardew's side out of the competition for the second year in succession.

Andrea Orlandi and Will Hoskins scored in either half at the AMEX Stadium, while Newcastle, who fielded a weakened team, had captain Shola Ameobi sent off for two bookable offences.

"If I am being honest, that team is a shadow of the team we put out last season," Newcastle manager Pardew said.

"We need to get some bigger players back, who can handle the situation of carrying the Newcastle jersey."

The biggest upsets of the day saw Macclesfield Town and Luton Town of the fifth-tier Conference National overcome Championship sides Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.

Premier League sides Fulham, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Stoke City were all taken to replays by lower-league opponents.

Jordi Gomez levelled for Wigan in a 1-1 draw against third-tier Bournemouth, while Sunderland hit back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Championship representatives Bolton Wanderers.

Giorgios Karagounis' stunning 80th-minute volley rescued a 1-1 draw for Fulham at home to Blackpool, and Stoke City were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace despite giving a first start to close-season signing Michael Owen.

Aston Villa fought back at home to Ipswich Town to prevail 2-1 through goals from Ipswich old boy Darren Bent and Andreas Weimann, while Reading also had to come from behind in a 3-1 win at Crawley Town.

Tottenham Hotspur avoided a repeat of their 1987 Cup final loss to Coventry City with a 3-0 success at White Hart Lane that saw Clint Dempsey claim a first-half brace.

In one of four all-Premier League encounters in the third round, Kieron Dyer's injury-time effort earned QPR a 1-1 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Seventh-tier Hastings United saw their campaign ended at Championship club Middlesbrough, who prevailed 4-1 despite seeing on-loan Hastings goalkeeper Liam O'Brien save an 18th-minute penalty from Ishmael Miller.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, united-kingdom, england

First posted January 06, 2013 08:28:24

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Van Persie double puts the bite on Cluj

Updated October 03, 2012 08:52:21

Robin van Persie put the bite on Romanian minnows CFR Cluj in Transylvania as the Manchester United striker's double clinched a 2-1 win in Champions League Group H on Wednesday morning (AEST).

Sir Alex Ferguson's side suffered an early fright in the region best known for providing the supposedly vampire-filled setting for Bram Stoker's Dracula.

But Pantelis Kapetanos's early goal for Cluj did not suck the life out of United, who maintained their 100 per cent start to this season's competition thanks to van Persie's brace.

United were rarely at their best at the Dr Constantin Radulescu Stadium, but Cluj ultimately lacked the quality to take advantage and Ferguson could take heart from the way van Persie and Wayne Rooney combined for both goals.

"The pass and the finish were equally good for Robin's second goal. It was a fantastic finish," Ferguson said.

"But they kept us under pressure and on edge because we didn't finish them off.

"To be fair we defended well apart from the goal. I've got to be pleased because Cluj have a good home record and coming away from home in Europe is never easy."

Ferguson's star strikers were starting together for the first time, with Javier Hernandez also included in an attacking line-up, as United looked to bounce back after Saturday's surprise 3-2 home defeat against Tottenham.

United's go for broke approach worked, but only after Cluj made a flying start.

The Romanian champions had won their opening game in Braga a fortnight ago thanks to two goals from Rafael Bastos and they showed no signs of being overawed by United in the early stages.

Ioan Andone's side gave a warning of their ability as Modou Sougou headed just wide from a Bastos corner.

United's defensive frailties have been clear for all to see this season, but it was still shocking to witness the ease with which Cluj sliced through the visitors' rearguard to take the lead in the 14th minute.

When Bastos flighted a long pass over the head of Patrice Evra, the United left-back's lack of pace was brutally exposed as Sougou surged clear before drilling over a low cross.

Even then the danger could still have been averted but Jonny Evans had taken up a position too far from Kapetanos and the Greece forward took full advantage to sweep his shot past David de Gea.

Rooney led United's response and the England striker's snap-shot forced Cluj goalkeeper Mario Felgueras to concede a corner with a sprawling save.

Anderson flashed a powerful effort narrowly wide moments later and, with Cluj fading as an attacking threat after Sougou went off injured, United's pressure paid off with a 29th minute equaliser.

While United could claim their dominance at that point deserved a reward, the actual goal had more than a hint of good fortune about it as van Persie mistimed his attempt to head goalwards from Rooney's free-kick, but still found the net as the ball looped over Felgueras off the Dutch forward's shoulder.

Van Persie had a chance to strike again before the break but his shot was well blocked by Felgueras.

The former Arsenal star did not have to wait long to notch his second of the night as United took the lead four minutes into the second half.

Van Persie's first had been a little fortuitous, but the second bore all the hallmarks of the Dutchman's sublime talent.

Rooney was the creator once more as his lofted pass picked out van Persie's run and the United forward, noticing that Felgueras had advanced too far off his line, cleverly flicked the ball past the goalkeeper and into the unguarded net with the outside of his boot.

De Gea preserved United's advantage as he tipped over Cadu's powerful header from a Bastos cross.

Some Cluj fans took to directing green laser pens at United's players in a bid to distract them in the closing stages, but De Gea remained focused and produced an excellent stop to deny Bastos in stoppage-time.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, champions-league, romania

First posted October 03, 2012 07:32:56

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Van Persie sinks unlucky Liverpool, City held

Updated September 24, 2012 12:09:05

A derby that began with an outpouring of goodwill ended in despair for Liverpool as Robin van Persie's penalty gave Manchester United a fortunate 2-1 win, before defending champions Manchester City drew 1-1 with Arsenal on Monday (AEST).

A poignant day at Anfield started with both sets of fans behaving impeccably during a tribute to the 96 supporters killed in the Hillsborough tragedy but Liverpool's gloomy season continued when Van Persie rammed home a late spot-kick after Glen Johnson had brought down Antonio Valencia.

Liverpool, reduced to 10 men in the first half when Jonjo Shelvey was red-carded, had led through Steven Gerrard's goal just after half-time but Rafael equalised for United who are second in the table with 12 points, one behind Chelsea.

There were grumbles of discontent at Eastlands as City drew for the third time in their opening five games, Laurent Koscielny smashing home a late equaliser for Arsenal after Joleon Lescott had headed the hosts into a half-time lead.

Both sides are unbeaten with nine points, although Mancini was clearly frustrated.

"This year we have one problem, we don't close the game and don't score more goals," he said.

"We had three or four chances in the second half and didn't score."

The most blatant fell to Sergio Aguero who missed an open goal after Vincent Kompany's bicycle kick had been saved.

"I am frustrated about the result. We need to work harder."

Tottenham Hotspur has eight points after Jermain Defoe sealed a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers, Spurs' first home win under new manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Demba Ba's early goal earned Newcastle United a 1-0 win over its former manager Chris Hughton's Norwich City.

The first match at Anfield since the Hillsborough report revealed a police cover-up and cleared Liverpool's fans of blame for 96 of them being crushed to death at a 1989 FA Cup semi-final sparked into life after 39 minutes when Shelvey lunged in on Jonny Evans.

But Liverpool rallied strongly and deservedly went ahead through Gerrard's precise volley.

A lacklustre United responded with Rafael curling a shot beyond Pepe Reina and Liverpool was left to curse its luck when Van Persie kept his cool to beat the despairing dive of Reina for his fifth league goal of the season.

With just two points from five games under new manager Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool has suffered its worst start in the league for 100 years, although United manager Alex Ferguson admitted his side had been fortunate to win at Anfield for the first time since 2007.

"I thought we were poor to be honest with you," Ferguson told United's website.

"I think the last four years we've allowed the crowd to get to us a little bit - they give fantastic support to their team and they really dominated the first half. Second half they got a great start.

"In the last four years here we haven't played well," he added.

"Today at least we've got a result."

One of the fiercest rivalries in world football was briefly put to one side before kick-off with an emotional tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster in the light of this month's independent report revealed an attempt to pin the blame on Liverpool's fans.

The crowd held up white and red cards spelling out "Truth" and "Justice" as the players walked out on to the pitch in tracksuits emblazoned on the back with "96".

Opposing captains Gerrard and Ryan Giggs released 96 balloons into the Merseyside sky and the anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" reverberated around the stadium with added emotion.

Even the race row between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra was finally put to bed as they shook hands before kick-off.

Shelvey raised the temperature with a high foot-first lunge in a 50-50 tackle with Evans. Referee Mark Halsey produced a straight red card and as Shelvey walked off he hurled abuse at Ferguson.

"He came and blamed me. Why look at himself in the mirror?," Ferguson said of Shelvey, who later apologised.

"Just blame someone else. I think the boy's young and when he looks at it again he'll realise the stupidity of it."

Apart from that, and a few mindless chants that did not befit the occasion, the match was played in a healthy spirit and Liverpool looked set for the perfect kick-start to its season when the tireless Gerrard fired them ahead.

However, it was to be another frustrating day for Rodgers whose side continue to lack a cutting edge.

After full-back Rafael's opportunist equaliser Liverpool looked the hungrier for victory but it was caught out by the speeding Valencia who was bundled over by a clumsy tackle from Johnson.

Van Persie was made to wait for four minutes to take the kick as Daniel Agger received treatment but slotted past the despairing dive of Reina to end a run of three missed penalties in a row for United.

"I'm bitterly disappointed with the result - I thought the best team lost," Rodgers told a news conference.

"What you can't control is decisions by the referee. If Jonjo Shelvey gets sent off, Jonny Evans has to get sent off."

Reuters

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, england, united-kingdom

First posted September 24, 2012 07:45:54

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Rooney injury overshadows van Persie strike

Updated August 29, 2012 13:57:30

Robin van Persie marked his first Manchester United start with a sublime goal, but his side's 3-2 victory over Fulham was marred by an injury to Wayne Rooney that will sideline the striker for four weeks.

Van Persie had little chance to contribute during a brief substitute appearance in United's lacklustre defeat at Everton on Monday, but took just 10 minutes to make his mark at Old Trafford with a brilliant half-volley to cancel out Damien Duff's opener.

Inspired by the ?24 million ($36.4 million) Dutch striker, United went on to secure their first win of the season.

But the result was overshadowed by Rooney's injury late in the second half, which left the England striker, who was stretchered off, with blood streaming from a deep gash in his thigh after he was caught by Hugo Rodallega.

Rooney was taken to hospital for treatment and United coach Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It was a very bad one. He has gone to hospital. It looks like he will be out for four weeks."

Fulham had stunned United when Irish winger Duff fired home from just inside the penalty area in the third minute.

But that brought a scintillating response from van Persie, who levelled with a blistering strike from Patrice Evra's cross.

Like van Persie, former Borussia Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa was making his first appearance at Old Trafford and he marked the occasion by tapping in his maiden United goal.

United defender Rafael da Silva added a third goal in the 41st minute before Nemanja Vidic's 64th-minute own goal gave Fulham a glimmer of hope.

While United are off the mark, Chelsea is setting the early pace as the European champions cemented their position on top of the table with a 2-0 win against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge.

Roberto Di Matteo's side, who have recorded three successive victories, went ahead in the 22nd minute when Eden Hazard drilled home his first Chelsea goal from the penalty spot after a Vurnon Anita foul on Fernando Torres.

Spain striker Torres added the second goal himself, lashing in from Hazard's back-heel just before half-time.

Praising Hazard's latest dominant display, Chelsea defender Ashley Cole said: "When I played for England against Belgium I had to mark him. I told the guys then that he's going to rip up the Premier League."

Standing behind Chelsea in the early table is surprise package Swansea which, following on from its 5-0 opening day win at QPR, easily beat West Ham 3-0.

Angel Rangel opened the scoring after 20 minutes, with Michu adding a second nine minutes later and Danny Graham making it three after the hour mark.

Everton, often hampered by slow starts to the season, also maintained its 100 percent record with a 3-1 win over 10-man Aston Villa.

South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar gave David Moyes' side the perfect start as he struck in the third minute at Villa Park.

Marouane Fellaini increased the lead with a 31st-minute header and Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic swept home a Leighton Baines cross just before half-time.

Villa defender Ciaran Clark earned a straight red card for a professional foul on Jelavic in the second half and Karim El Ahmadi's 74th-minute goal was little consolation for the hosts.

Andre Villas-Boas was denied a first win as Tottenham manager as James Morrison's late goal secured a 1-1 draw for West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto struck for Tottenham in the 74th minute with a deflected shot, but Steve Clarke's side levelled through Morrison in stoppage time.

Norwich City and QPR, both thrashed 5-0 last weekend, shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.

Chris Hughton's side took the lead through Simeon Jackson's 11th-minute header, but QPR were level within nine minutes when Bobby Zamora converted the rebound after Djibril Cisse's penalty was saved by John Ruddy.

Wigan Athletic showed there is life after Victor Moses as the Latics won 2-0 at Southampton.

With Nigeria forward Moses having joined Chelsea on Friday, Wigan coach Roberto Martinez needed his other forwards to step up and Franco Di Santo rose to the challenge as the Argentine hammered a powerful shot into the roof of the net in the 51st minute.

Arouna Kone completed Wigan's victory with a fine solo effort in the 89th minute.

Sunderland's match against Reading was postponed less than 90 minutes before kick-off due to a waterlogged pitch at the Stadium of Light.

Arsenal travels to Stoke City tonight (AEST) and hours later champions Manchester City take on Liverpool at Anfield.

Results:

Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0

Manchester United 3 Fulham 2

Swansea 3 West Ham 0

Aston Villa 1 Everton 3

Tottenham 1 West Brom 1

Norwich 1 QPR 1

Southampton 0 Wigan 2

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, england

First posted August 26, 2012 08:39:16

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United complete swoop for van Persie

Updated August 17, 2012 23:35:30

Manchester United completed its swoop for Arsenal striker Robin van Persie on Friday after the Dutch star passed a medical and agreed personal terms on a four-year contract.

Van Persie's transfer, which is believed to have cost United around 22 million ($36 million) has been completed in time for the forward to make his debut in his new team's opening Premier League game of the season at Everton on Monday.

The 29-year-old's signing is a significant coup for United boss Sir Alex Ferguson after he persuaded van Persie to snub an offer from Premier League champions Manchester City in a favour of a move to Old Trafford.

"Robin van Persie has completed his medical, agreed personal terms and signed for Manchester United on a four-year contract until June 2016," a statement on United's website confirmed.

Ferguson had been desperate to land van Persie as he tries to wrestle the English crown back from City and he believes the former Feyenoord star's arrival will be a massive boost to United's title bid.

"Robin is a world-class striker with a proven record in England and in European football," he said.

"His talents need no introduction to our fans - he has scored a number of goals against us in some classic battles with his former club.

"His movement, finishing and all-round ability are outstanding."

Van Persie has long been regarded as one of the most talented forwards in Europe, but it was only in the last 18 months that he finally delivered on that vast potential.

He finished the 2010-11 campaign in blistering form and carried on in the same vein last term, scoring 37 goals in all competitions and winning both the players' and football writers' player of the year awards.

But despite those individual accolades, van Persie had only one major winners' medal, from the 2005 FA Cup, to show for his eight years at Arsenal and he decided earlier in the close-season that he had to leave the Gunners to fulfill his desire to win the game's top prizes.

Arsenal had no option but to give into van Persie's demand for a move as he had only one year left on his contract.

Initially it seemed City or Italian champions Juventus would be his likely destination, but Ferguson's powers of persuasion, and the lure of playing for a historic club like United, convinced the Dutchman to move to Old Trafford.

Van Persie described the chance to play for United as an "honour" and he has already set his sights on emulating the achievements of club legends like Eric Cantona, George Best and Denis Law.

"I am looking forward to following in the footsteps of so many great strikers, bringing my experience and playing my part to help the team compete for the biggest trophies in the game," van Persie said.

"I can't wait to get started."

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, england, united-kingdom

First posted August 17, 2012 23:34:10

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United agree deal to sign van Persie

Updated August 16, 2012 06:01:35

Manchester United has agreed a deal to sign last season's English Premier League top scorer Robin van Persie from rivals Arsenal.

Van Persie will travel to Old Trafford later today and is expected to complete a move in time to make his Red Devils debut away to Everton on Monday.

"Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Arsenal Football Club for the transfer of Robin Van Persie," a club statement read.

"The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course."

Van Persie stunned Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger when he declared immediately after Euro 2012 that he wanted to leave the north London team because he felt the club's ambitions did not match his own.

That came after a superb season where the forward scored 37 goals in all competitions, a tally that led him to being voted player of the year by both his fellow professionals in England and the country's Football Writers' Association.

Van Persie's announcement sparked interest from Premier League champions Manchester City, as well as Italian giants Juventus, but it is United manager Sir Alex Ferguson who has won the race for the striker's coveted signature.

It is not expected either a medical or indeed personal terms will prove a barrier to the 29-year-old's move to Old Trafford.

No fee has been confirmed by either United or Arsenal, although it has been reported as around the ?20 million ($29.9 million) mark.

The transfer is set to be the most expensive deal United have done since Dimitar Berbatov's club record ?30.75m move from Tottenham in 2008.

Ferguson made van Persie one of his main preseason targets, despite already having Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez in his squad.

The veteran Scottish boss even went so far as speaking directly to Wenger in a bid to make sure the deal went through.

French boss Wenger did not want to sell prize asset van Persie to a rival Premier League club.

But with supporters turning against their former favourite during a preseason match with Cologne on Sunday and van Persie having just a year left on his Gunners contract, he clearly decided it was better to sell him for a large fee than see him leave for nothing in 12 months' time.

Moves between the two clubs have been rare in the last two-and-a-half decades since both ended years of underachievement to become title contenders in the late 1980s.

Frank Stapleton 31 years ago is the last striker to disappoint Arsenal fans by leaving for Old Trafford. A tribunal agreed a fee of ?900,000 for the Irishman.

England full-back Viv Anderson also left north London for Manchester in 1987 for ?250,000.

Mikael Silvestre made the opposite switch in 2008 after nine years at United.

AFP/ABC

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First posted August 16, 2012 05:48:55

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Wenger admits regrets over Van Persie sale

Updated August 17, 2012 17:19:07

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger says he would have preferred to sell star striker Robin van Persie to Paris Saint Germain rather than Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Van Persie is expected to complete his move to Old Trafford within the next 24 hours after Arsenal accepted a bid of around 22 million pounds ($36 million) for its captain.

"To have sold the Dutch international to a rival team was a negative point which we wanted to avoid at any price, but we could not," Wenger said in a video released by French broadcaster TF1.

"Honestly, I would have preferred to have sold him overseas, to PSG for example, rather than Manchester United.

"He's an exceptional player in the pure sense of the term. I haven't seen many in my life who have that quality in the first touch, are so technically gifted and have that intelligence of movement in the final 20 metres.

"Unfortunately, there's an economic reality and the desire of the player. There's no other way but to leave him go.

"It's another pill to swallow, we've swallowed other ones and we've always survived, but he scored 30 goals for us in the league last season, practically one every match."

The Dutch international scored 37 goals for Arsenal in all competitions last season and his departure is a significant blow to its hopes of ending a seven-year trophy drought.

"The economic factor is the sole satisfying thing, but you don't play with money on the pitch, you play with the quality of the players. To lose a player of this ilk is tough," Wenger said.

"It will give more chances to (new recruit Olivier) Giroud because when Van Persie is there, he's hands-down the first name on the team sheet, and then you pick the others around him.

"There's a gap to fill, it's up to whoever wants to seize their chance."

AFP

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First posted August 17, 2012 17:15:39

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Van Persie hat-trick seals late win for United

Updated September 03, 2012 06:42:17

Robin van Persie struck twice late on to complete his hat-trick and seal a dramatic 3-2 victory for Manchester United over Southampton in the Premier League on Monday morning (AEST).

The Dutch striker's earlier penalty miss with his side trailing 2-1 looked to have condemned United to a second defeat in their opening three league games but he made amends with two poacher's goals in the dying minutes to steal the points.

Van Persie's thumping 92nd-minute header was his 100th Premier League goal and his fourth in three appearances for United since he joined from Arsenal for 24 million pounds ($37 million) in the transfer window.

Earlier, Lukas Podolski, the man tasked with filling the prolific Dutchman's boots for Arsenal, opened his account in English football in a 2-0 victory at Liverpool.

It was Arsenal's first win, and first goals, of the season after two 0-0 draws, while Liverpool's solitary point from its opening three fixtures is its worst start for 50 years.

In the day's other match, Newcastle United was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Aston Villa, leaving Southampton as the only top-flight side still without a point.

Van Persie scored 37 times for Arsenal last season to clinch the Premier League's Player of the Year award and has carried that prolific form to United.

"He's got four goals in two starts which is a great statistic and he'll get better," United manager Alex Ferguson, whose side climbed to fifth with six points, said after the match.

Until the 87th minute, however, it was Van Persie's fluffed penalty which was set to make the headlines.

Shortly after Patrice Evra's slip allowed Morgan Schneiderlin to restore the home side's lead, Van Persie was felled in the area by Jos Hooiveld.

After placing the ball on the spot he dispensed with his usual penalty-taking style, electing instead to try and dink the ball past Kelvin Davies but his execution was poor and the keeper was able to claw the ball away.

Newly-promoted Southampton had taken the lead after 16 minutes when Rickie Lambert climbed high to head past Anders Lindegaard after United had lost possession in midfield.

Van Persie levelled eight minutes later, chesting down Antonio Valencia's pass and smashing left-footed past Davis.

United never looked secure at the back, though, and Schneiderlin headed Lambert's cross past Lindegaard after 56 minutes, finding himself unmarked following Evra's slip.

After Van Persie's penalty miss the home fans were preparing to celebrate a famous win, only for Van Persie to ruin the party. First he prodded home from close range after Rio Ferdinand's header rebounded off the post.

Then, deep into added time, he made sublime contact with a corner to flash a header past Davis.

"We were a bit lucky with the 2-2 and the dramatic end," Van Persie said.

"I have to say a big thank you to Paul Scholes. When he came on, every single pass he hit was the right one.

"With him you are always on your toes. For me, he was the man of the match."

Of his penalty blunder, he said: "I don't know what I was thinking with the penalty. I was going to hit it hard but at the last second I changed my mind."

Van Persie's departure had caused furrowed brows among Arsenal fans but the north London club kick-started their season with German striker Podolski proving that they may still prosper despite the sale of the Dutch goal-machine.

When Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard gave the ball away after 31 minutes at Anfield, Arsenal swept down the other end in a flash and Santi Cazorla, another of Arsene Wenger's new signings, played a perfect pass for Podolski to lash a first-time shot past Pepe Reina.

Liverpool, for whom strikers Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini rarely threatened, was lightweight in attack and there was no way back for Brendan Rodgers' side when Spaniard Cazorla sealed the points after 67 minutes.

"Overall, I am pleased with the quality of our performance," Wenger told the club's website.

"Everybody understood very quickly that Cazorla would not take six months to settle and Podolski is deadly when there is a chance."

Rodgers, who has few attacking options after Andy Carroll was loaned to West Ham United, finds himself in the bottom three.

"We created enough chances but were not clinical enough," he said.

"There is a lot of good to come from the game but we lost and we need to improve.

"We'll get better as our season progresses."

Reuters

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, england, united-kingdom

First posted September 03, 2012 06:35:42

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Van Persie double rescues Arsenal

Updated October 17, 2011 07:20:39

Captain Robin van Persie struck twice to inspire Arsenal to a much-needed 2-1 victory over Sunderland and Newcastle United scored late to maintain its unbeaten Premier League record in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

Van Persie insisted in the club's matchday program that he has no intention of following Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri out of the club and then underlined his commitment with a man-of-the-match display capped by a brilliant winner with just eight minutes left.

Arsene Wenger's side kicked-off just two points above the relegation zone after their worst start to a season for 58 years.

But Arsenal will always be a threat while it has van Persie and the Gunners captain showed his class with a cool finish after only 29 seconds.

Sunderland gave the ball away from the kick-off and when Gervinho crossed low into the penalty area, van Persie dummied Wes Brown before firing past Simon Mignolet to score the club's fastest ever Premier League goal and the quickest in the top-flight this season.

Former Arsenal winger Sebastian Larsson equalised in sublime fashion as the Swede curled a brilliant shot beyond Wojciech Szczesny from 25 yards in the 31st minute

Szczesny then had to make a fine stop from Lee Cattermole's close-range header to deny Sunderland a second goal.

But van Persie saved his best until last as he stepped up to bend a superb free-kick over the Sunderland wall and into the top corner in the 82nd minute.

That was enough to give Arsenal only its third win in eight league games and lift Wenger's men into 10th place, while struggling Sunderland is above the relegation zone on goal difference.

"We had a good start for 25 minutes but as soon as Sunderland equalised the confidence started to wobble a bit," Wenger said.

"The second half was all us but we needed something special from Robin van Persie to make the difference."

Newcastle stays unbeaten

At St James' Park, Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart put Tottenham ahead in the 40th minute when he slotted home a penalty after Steven Taylor tripped Emmanuel Adebayor.

Senegal striker Demba Ba equalised with his fifth goal in three games when he stabbed a Jonas Gutierrez cross goalwards in the 48th minute and goalkeeper Brad Friedel could not prevent it crossing the line.

Jermain Defoe restored Tottenham's lead with a brilliant turn and shot that flashed past goalkeeper Tim Krul from the edge of the area in the 68th minute.

But Alan Pardew's fourth placed team have developed a resilient streak this term and substitute Ameobi equalised with a thunderous left-footed drive across Friedel in the 86th minute.

"We created enough pressure to warrant a draw, maybe win it," Pardew said.

"We're not going to settle for a draw at home and Tottenham wanted to win as well. It made for a great game."

Earlier on Sunday, West Bromwich Albion climbed out of the relegation zone after defeating bitter rivals Wolves 2-0 in the Black Country derby at the Hawthorns.

Roy Hodgson's side started the day third bottom of the table with just one win in their seven league games, but goals from Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwingie ended that dismal run and earned the bragging rights over their hated neighbours.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted October 17, 2011 06:58:13

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