Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hailed his goal hero Robin van Persie after last night’s Champions League clash with Olympiakos.
The Dutch international’s 78th-minute strike broke the deadlock against the Greek champions and Arsenal boss Wenger declared that thanks to Van Persie he will not have to splash the cash.
Wenger also said that he believes that Van Persie is now a big name and that he is bigger than when he arrived and that these players make their names here.
He also added that by seeing who was not playing tonight, it is clear that Arsenal is not desperate.
Andrey Arshavin’s goal on 86 minutes sealed the table-topping Gunners’ second successive Group H win, which should have been far more convincing.
Van Persie said that Wenger said to the players at half-time to be patient and that their moment would come and it did. Van Persie said that when it happened it was a big relief.
Wenger also added that he knew the difference would be in the last 20 minutes.
Arshavin was clearly offside when he back-heeled in a Cesc Fabregas cross, which infuriated Olympiakos chief Zico.
Zico then blasted that the game had three French officials and a French manager of one of the teams. He added that he does not think that the referee was biased but a goal was offside.