Van Persie: Last-16 heartache

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RvP has ‘unfinished business’

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes talismanic striker Robin van Persie has a score to settle in the UEFA Champions League.

This time last year the Gunners had been drawn against Barcelona in the last-16 of Europe’s biggest club cup competition, although the second-leg encounter at the Nou Camp proved a frustrating one for Van Persie.

The Arsenal captain was sent off just moments after the north London outfit had taken a 3-2 aggregate lead.

The red card came under controversial circumstances as the Dutchman was shown a second yellow for apparently kicking the ball away after play had been brought back.

Van Persie, however, appeared not to have heard the whistle after he had broken through on goal and attempted a long-range shot.

Wenger’s men eventually went on to lose that encounter 4-3 on aggregate, sealing their departure from the tournament.

Ahead of this Wednesday’s first knock-out phase clash against AC Milan, the Frenchman feels Van Persie has a point to prove.

“I believe that (game at Barcelona) was hugely frustrating,” Wenger told the club’s official website. “I believe as well when (Van Persie) was sent off that he didn’t deserve to be.

“It was also a big frustration as he wasn’t prepared to play that game - everybody said he could not play because of his knee problem. I decided very late to play him.

“He had to dig deep as well maybe to play the game. But this year he is in a much better condition.”

Van Persie, currently the Premier League’s top goal scorer with 22, was handed the captaincy at the Emirates Stadium at the beginning of this season, with defender Thomas Vermaelen deputising, and Wenger believes the pair have done a stellar job in their respective roles.

“Robin has grown into a great, great player, a great leader,” Wenger added. “Thomas is vice-captain so we are bit under the Dutch influence. Before it was French, and English.

“Robin has taken his role very seriously and has become not only a great player but a great leader for the team and credit to him for that.”