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Van Persie admits his first goal was 'a little bit offside'
James Olley1 Dec 2008
Arsenal hero Robin van Persie has admitted his controversial equaliser that put the Gunners on track for a shock victory at Stamford Bridge was "a little bit offside" but claims it was justice for a goal against Chelsea that was ruled out three years ago.
Blues coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is furious the goal was allowed to stand - and has demanded an apology from referee Mike Dean - but he could face a Football Association rap for his criticism of the officials.
Scolari accused Dean of "killing" his team but Van Persie, who went on to seal a 2-1 victory with a second goal, said: "I scored a goal against Chelsea [in a 2-0 home defeat in December 2005].
"I was onside but the ref gave it offside and it didn't count. Today was maybe a little bit offside but it counted and that's all that matters."
Hailing the Gunners' team spirit after recovering from Johan Djourou's first-half own goal, he said: "It was a big win. In the last 20 minutes we showed a lot of character so the whole team deserve a big compliment.
"When you are playing against Chelsea on their ground and go 1-0 down, you know it's going to be really difficult."
An angry Scolari said: "I want the referee and the linesman to look on television, admit they are wrong and say sorry. In the first half the linesman made the same mistake but against us [against Salomon Kalou].
"And in the second half for Arsenal's first goal it was a big mistake against us - he was more than one metre in front but not given offside. Offside killed my team."
Scolari's comments about Dean were today being scrutinised by the Football Assocation and
could land him in trouble.
Yesterday's victory puts the Gunners back into
fourth place in the League and Emmanuel Adebayor
claims it proves that they can still win title.
Having already lost five League games, Arsenal's
credentials were under a severe examination.
But Adebayor said: "We went through a lot of
difficult moments and people wrote us off. Now this is a message that we have sent out. We believe in ourselves, we can do something."
Reader views (15)
Mr Nuga.
I watched the game as a neutral, I am just tired of Mr Wengers antics, but Arsenal were outplayed in the first half and got a break at the right time, I like to see English teams with home grown players, Mr Capello would be watching England's finest in the depths of Doncaster if Wenger had his way, restrict teams to 4 foreigners and when one of your players spits at an opponent like Viera did to Neil Ruddock admit that your team behaved in a bad way, not deny that you saw the incident.
- Terry, London, 01/12/2008 19:45
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I am happy for Arsenal great win, but they ve to learn that you don't beat Man U and Chelsea then loose to Fulham and Hall then expect to win the championship.
- Alex Lisinge, Putney London, 01/12/2008 14:11
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OK Chelsea weren't good enough to win yesterday, I accept that. But we shouldn't have lost either. Robbing Van Persie's goal should have been ruled out. And Kalou was onside!
How can Scolari now face an FA rap for criticising Mike Dean and his merry men??? Dean is either incompetent or a cheat, has to be one or the other.
Wenger of course didn't see it, but then he has not seen any incident in any arsenal game ever, God knows how he sorts out the tactics!!!
- Kerry, Purley, 01/12/2008 14:04
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Why can't they have a video referee like they do in Rugby Union? I can understand that there isn't time for that while play is continuing, but when the ball in in the back of the net, there is no ongoing play. Likewise, when play is stopped and the referee has to decide whether a player should be sent off, and/or whether a penalty should be awarded.
- Nigel, London, 01/12/2008 13:49
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and do not forget Chelski, that your goal was a gift.
- Jaberwokie3, switzerland, 01/12/2008 13:38
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Yes, Arsenal's first goal was offside, but you can't only have one shot on target in the whole game and then complain when you don't win. Chelsea were very average yesterday. Also don't forget that John Terry should have been dismissed for a vicious two footed tackle on Sagna- if that had been anyone else other than the Captain of England, they would have been sent off.
- Nick, London, 01/12/2008 13:33
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So Scolari is furious, have Chelsea never scored a goal that was off-side. Well that's football' deal with it.
If I was him I'd be more concerned that his multi million pound team only managed one shot on target.
Well done to a weakened Arsenal team, they showed great spirit.
- Malc, London,England, 01/12/2008 13:12
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Dont know what Chelsea are moaning about,i thought the ref had a good game,Arsenal came to the Bridge and gave Chelsea a real wake up call,just because you spend millions upon millions it does not give you a god given right to win every game.Chelsea heads went down after the first Van Persie goal,and when he scored the second they bottled it.Magnificent game,every Arsenal player done their bit,Wengers choice of Fabregas as captain looks like it was the right one.
- Jim Ex Pat,N1, thailand, 01/12/2008 13:00
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LOL! First goal was obviously an offside, and I don't care if that happened 3 years ago, we're talking about the present. If the goal was actually refereed properly, Chelsea would've left with 1 point, or probably even scored more and taken their well deserved 3 points. Idiots like Van Persie shouldn't even be allowed on the pitch. Arsenal, hah. But then again, MUFC and Arsenal, the usual crap, pay 'em off. Pathetic.
- C0mrade., None., 01/12/2008 12:50
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CHELSEA LOST BECAUSE THEY HAD 1 SHOT ON TARGET THE WHOLE GAME! Don't make it into anything else! Did Chelsea not beat Arsenal when 0-1 down with an offside goal last season, which put Arsenal out of title race, and below Cheslea?
- Arsene Knows, Guildford, 01/12/2008 12:22
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It was about time we had some good fortune on our side. Hopefully we can push on & put a run together to challenge for the title.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 01/12/2008 12:01
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wyen chels lost da sekond goal you cod c dey werent win and ting
- Bobby Stokes, London, 01/12/2008 11:48
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Mr Terry, it's all sour grapes. Accept that you were outwitted and outplayed by a better team full-stop. The Arsenal revival starts here and there is no stopping it.
- Julius Nuga, Abbots Langley UK, 01/12/2008 11:47
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Bet Wenger never saw the offside, he was sitting in the same seat as he used to sit when he used to miss all of his teams foul play, but imagine if the decision went against him? he would be crying like a spoilt French baby, still, another team selection full of homebread lads!!! keep up the good work Wenger England will soon be up there with the likes of Andorra if all the managers adopt your ways and remember the next time the ref makes a bad decision against you that you won this game due to bad referring in your favor
- Terry, London, 01/12/2008 11:17
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Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 and no matter how many excuses Scolari can make,the result remains the same.How many times Drogba scored from ofside positions against Arsenal,and were awarded?Did Scolari complained against the inexistent foul by Gallas on the edge of the penalty area just before half-time that might have killed the game in his favour????
- Gooner4ever, Malta, 01/12/2008 10:50
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