Van Persie reaction to Adebayor incident

Robin van Persie has issued the following statement following an incident with Emmanuel Adebayor at Saturday's game:

"I am sad and disappointed by my former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor's mindless and malicious stamp on me during today's match.

"We are both professional footballers and I know that the game is physical, I too have made hard and sometimes mis-timed challenges but never with the intention of hurting an opponent. He set out to hurt me today.

"I knew he was aiming for a collision because he changed the angle of his body to allow contact to be made. He moved backwards when his natural momentum would have taken him forward. I find that deeply disrespectful. He has shown a real lack of class today, to me and the fans.

"I do feel lucky that I have not suffered a greater injury. The contact was only centimetres from my eye. I have not received an apology from him, there were no words exchanged afterwards. He had his own agenda today and that is bad for football. It's bad for the game we all love.

"I want to make it clear that this has nothing to do with the result of today's match. We do not hide from that disappointment but I need to speak out about his behaviour."

Wenger: Clean sheet good for our confidence

Dear Supporter,

I was delighted with the result on Saturday and it was good to keep a clean sheet too.

It's good for the confidence of the team that we did not concede against Wigan. Conceding goals is a little bit the price we pay for our style of play. We had maybe 10 chances on Saturday and gave two away. But I think we'll be more and more solid when we get used to the way we want to play.

Thomas Vermaelen is now our top scorer after his two goals against Wigan! What is good since the beginning of the season is that we have scored goals from all over the pitch. We scored four on Saturday but we could have scored more. Even in the away games - Manchester United and Manchester City - we could have scored more. That shows we have the potential.

As for Thomas, I thought he could adapt quickly to English football but not as quickly as that.

It is difficult to know who should claim the third goal because Eduardo took the shot and Emmanuel Eboue deflected it past the keeper. Spirit-wise I give it to Eduardo because the shot was on target. If this ball was deflected by a Wigan player would you give it to Eduardo?

We had this debate at UEFA. If the shot is on target but is deflected by the defender you give it to the striker. If the ball is missing the target, you give an own goal.

Eboue played well, he did what you have to do after the problems he encountered during last season's game with Wigan. You have to shut up, play and do well. Let people talk but shut up yourself. This is a job where you have to respond mentally. The supporters are behind him now because he plays well and with the right spirit.

He is a sensitive boy and an extrovert. He plays as a defender but he is a creative spirit in my opinion. That is why I used him in midfield because he has good acceleration and a good dribble. I believe he was a bit too nervous at the start but age will help him. He will get less excited and his vision will get better in the final third. He shows that now already.

Tomas Rosicky was another positive on Saturday and 'touch-wood' his problem is sorted. He had not played a game for 18 months. Now he has played with the Czech Republic and us. I did not leave him on the bench against Wigan because I was cautious. He was ready to play and for me he looks completely over his injury.

Thanks for your continued support.