Arsenal leaders: Success is team effort

RvP, Wenger maintain team spirit

Arsenal leaders: Success is team effort   | read this item

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and captain Robin van Persie have both emphasized that the Gunners’ tremendous form to recover from a poor start to the season is a complete team effort.

Van Persie’s prolific goal-scoring form has led many to frequently allude to Arsenal as a ‘one-man’ team and raise questions over the strength of the remainder of the squad.

However, ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s visit in the Champions League, the Dutchman has rubbished such suggestions, instead expressing his gratitude to the likes of Theo Walcott, Gervinho, and Aaron Ramsey for playing an instrumental role in his huge success.

“Theo has given me more assists than anyone else this year,” Van Persie told Arsenal.com as he started off with a tribute to the England winger.

The skipper added: “I’ve certainly noticed it and that’s why I really liked the fact that he gave me the ball for my 100th goal – it was meant to be! Hopefully I can give him some proper assists as well, because as a striker I believe assists are just as important as the goals you score.

“Theo’s assists aren’t lucky – they’re proper assists, down to good movements, good actions, good final balls. For me that’s perhaps even more important than a goal.”

Moving on to summer signing Gervinho’s contribution, RvP continued with humility: “For example, I look back at my first goal against Chelsea and don’t really feel that it’s mine – it’s 95 per cent down to Gervinho.

“And my first goal against Norwich was 90 per cent Theo’s – a fantastic first touch, great pace, good cross and bang, I tap it in. OK, it goes in my name, but that’s a tiny part of the story. I do appreciate that, and hopefully I can give him and all the other guys just as much back.

“Don’t forget Aaron. He was a bit unlucky against Norwich as he should probably have been passed to on a couple of occasions when he’d shown great movement to get into good positions.”

Meanwhile, Wenger was quick to defend Per Mertesacker, who was heavily criticized for lacking strength in his failure to prevent Steven Morison from opening the scoring for the Canaries during the Gunners’ 2-1 win at Carrow Road on Saturday.

The manager pointed out that the German international took complete accountability for the incident and the team remains firmly behind him.

“In England, when you’re in front of the striker, you have not won the battle. In many countries you have. But they fight till the last second here. Of course, he (Per) is under pressure and scrutiny. Yet you don’t feel sorry for a situation like that because it’s what happens at a big club.

“However, he is intelligent and he will adapt quickly. He is very responsible as well. He didn’t complain about a possible free-kick [on the Morison goal] because he was pulled down. He just said he should have cleared it earlier,” Wenger asserted.

Finally, Wenger also acknowledged the similarities between his Gunners and tonight’s opponents but insists that Dortmund’s terrific form is no excuse for his team to fail on their own turf.

“We had a difficult start, they had a difficult start and we have both picked up since. They were a good team already in Dortmund but we feel strong enough to be at home and finish the job,” the Frenchman concluded.

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