Super Robin van Persie comes to Arsenal’s rescue

DOUBLE JOY ... Robin van Persie

HERO Robin Van Persie rode to Arsenal's rescue yet again with a double against Stoke.

But his supersub intervention only came after a late fitness test on Sunday morning.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had added an extra player to the squad fearing his Captain Marvel might not be fit.

But in the end Wenger was forced to risk the Dutchman in order to get the points after Potters hitman Peter Crouch had cancelled out Gervinho's opener.

Wenger feared Van Persie, 28, might suffer a hamstring injury after having already played 17 games this season.

The Emirates chief said: "I took 19 players on the day before the game because I was not sure to involve him on the team sheet.

"He had muscular tightness, I was not even sure he would be on the team sheet but we checked him this morning and he was medically all right to be on the bench.

"Before you leave him out you always think 15 times 'do I really do it' but I felt at some stage, and looking at the number of games he has played and with his history, you have to be cautious.

"He played two full games with Holland and the whole game against Sunderland. He played up front alone in Marseille, so at some stage you have to give him a breather."

Wenger admitted before the game he needed to rest Van Persie and instead started with Marouane Chamakh.

Gervinho gave Arsenal a 27th-minute lead but former Spurs striker Crouch levelled for Tony Pulis' men before half-time.

Wenger eventually brought on Van Persie with 23 minutes left and the Dutchman responded — with Gervinho setting up both his goals.

The Arsenal boss added: "We needed to calm down at half-time and the second half was all us.

"Then the problem was to score goals and Van Persie can do that better than many people.