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Van Persie fears for fourth place
James Olley9 Feb 2009
Robin van Persie has admitted Arsenal must improve dramatically or risk missing out on a top-four finish in the Premier League.
The Gunners fell five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea after a goalless draw against Tottenham yesterday. Emmanuel Eboue had a goal disallowed before being sent off for two bookable offences as Arsenal, with new signing Andrey Arshavin on the subs' bench, recorded their sixth draw in nine matches.
And Van Persie said: “In the last three Premier League games we have had three draws and that is just not good enough.
“It is six points missing — if we had those six points but this is if, if, if. It's not really working. What can I say? Sometimes it's me to blame or a player to blame. Sometimes we are unlucky.
“We are still creating the chances. Even with 10 men we had a few chances. I am not really worried because we are still creating. If you look at the chances they had and we had, I think we can be happy.”
Michael Dawson said Tottenham missed a golden chance to finally end their north London derby jinx after failing to beat the 10-men Gunners.
He said: “You have seen the way we played and it is just disappointing we couldn't get the ball in the back of the net. I don't think there was anything mental in that performance.
“When they went down to 10 men we believed we could win it and we just couldn't do it. Maybe this was a chance missed.”
Reader views (3)
I think we need to get use to the idea of playing in the UEFA cup next season and re-build during the summer. Unless Chelsea completely collapse! I think we will be stronger for missing one season of the C/L. We need maybe 2 new signings int he summer and one season without loosing out top players to injury for 3/4's of a season! An Arsenal team with a regular line up of Toure, Djourou, Cesc, Diaby, Denilson, Nasri, Arshavin, Rosicky, Walcott, RVP, Eduardo, Adeybaor will see us to silverwear and back into the C/L. Like to see Gallas & Eboue swapped for Cheillini during the summer and someone to cover for Sagna as he plays too many games. With the likes of Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere, Vela all coming into their 2nd season with the 1st team, we will have strength in depth as well. Also bring back Senderos back to add more depth to the defence.
- Newmy, Ipswich, 09/02/2009 15:55
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i think eboue is a liability for arsenal. i do not want to see him next few matches left. he behave like a child..
- Ff, london, 09/02/2009 14:03
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The ref disallowed a perfect goal and sent one player off to do Spurs a favour, but they could not buy a goal these days, poor things!
- Alan, Guildford, 09/02/2009 11:38
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