Premier League: Arsenal’s spirits lifted as van Persie scores double

West Brom defeat Wolves as Chelsea decimate Everton in Premier League.


Afp October 16, 2011

LONDON: Robin van Persie lifted the gloom around Arsenal as his double clinched a much-needed 2-1 win over Sunderland in the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger’s side kicked off just two points above the relegation zone after their worst start to a season for 58 years.

But Arsenal will always be a threat while they have van Persie and he showed his class with a cool finish after only 29 seconds.

Sunderland gave the ball away from the kick-off and when Gervinho crossed low into the penalty area, van Persie dummied Wes Brown before firing past Simon Mignolet to score the club’s fastest ever league goal and the quickest in the top-flight this season.

Sunderland’s Sebastian Larsson equalised when he curled a brilliant shot beyond Wojciech Szczesny from 25 yards.

Van Persie saved his best until last as he stepped up to bend a superb free-kick over the Sunderland wall and into the top corner in the 82nd minute.

Earlier, West Brom climbed out of the relegation zone after defeating bitter rivals Wolves 2-0.

Roy Hodgson’s side started the day with just one win in seven games, but goals from Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwingie ended that dismal run.

‘We have done nothing special’

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas described his side’s start to the season as nothing special even after a 3-1 home win over Everton that kept his team in third place, three points behind leaders Manchester City.

Chelsea have lost just once since Villas-Boas became their manager and they have won all six fixtures at home so far.

“We’ve done nothing else other than our responsibility in the games that we’ve won at home,” said Villas-Boas. “Away we lost to United and got a point at Stoke but we’ve not done anything special.

“We have to continue to win until we find a position of comfort at the top of the league.”

Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring for Chelsea just after the half-hour mark with a header from Ashley Cole’s cross and captain John Terry headed in Frank Lampard’s free-kick in first-half stoppage time.

Ramires made it 3-0 midway through the second half, with Everton substitute Apostolos Vellios scoring a consolation goal.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2011.

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