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Robin van Persie today revealed how his settled family life is helping to produce arguably the best form of his Arsenal career.
The Dutchman scored twice in Saturday's 3-0 win over Tottenham to take his tally to eight goals from his last nine matches and continue a superb start to the season.
Van Persie recently celebrated the birth of his second child with wife Bouchra and claims the celebrity nightclub lifestyle does not interest him as the Gunners fight for silverware on four fronts.
He said: "My family life is fantastic. The main things in my life are my two kids and my wife and it makes you stable. It gives you a good basis to perform because it is not good to go out all the time.
"When you play at this level - in the Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League - you need to recover and get your rest here and there and that is what I am doing.
"I sleep OK. I am sometimes tired all day but it is not because I don't get enough sleep. Sometimes I jump into my son's bed and that helps as well. I get seven to eight hours a night which is good but when you have two kids and lots of guests over, you are a bit tired.
"I am in the middle of this situation but I am feeling stronger again now. Two weeks ago, after the birth, it was really hard and I was struggling physically but it is better now."
The 26-year-old, who signed a new contract with the club in July, also claimed he would love to play against Manchester City after Arsenal were drawn to face Mark Hughes's side in the Carling Cup quarter-finals.
The Gunners lost 4-2 in September's Premier League clash as former player Emmanuel Adebayor earned a suspension and a ban for his antics, which included a stamp on Van Persie, who said: "If they can find the right mix like they did in the last round against Liverpool, they have a big chance of winning. I would love to play - if the boss decides to let me."
Carling Cup quarter-final draw: Blackburn v Chelsea; Manchester City v Arsenal; Manchester United v Tottenham; Portsmouth v Aston Villa. Ties to be played 1/2 December.
Reader views (1)
I hope RVP gets to play, in fact I hope Arsene puts out a team to win rather than a team to get experience. The 1st team should have the opportunity to gain revenge on the loss at Manchester earlier in the season. It's not as though we can afford to throw trophies away.
- Paul, Stevenage, 03/11/2009 10:55
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