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29 March 2024

Arsenal captain Van Persie loses cool against Krul

Arsenal's Robin van Persie (left) and Newcastle United's goalkeeper Tim Krul confront each other during their English English Premier League match at Emirates Stadium in London on Monday. (REUTERS)

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By Staff

Robin van Persie gave Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger the jitters after escaping with a booking following a running feud with Newcastle keeper Tim Krul.

Wenger feared his talismanic captain could have been sent off after a furious bust-up with his Dutch team mate at the end of the match.

The two were involved in a heated clash after Thomas Vermaelen's dramatic 95th-minute winner.

The normally calm Van Persie accused Newcastle keeper Krul of time wasting and referee Howard Webb booked both players amid a mass brawl. They also had to be kept apart at the final whistle.

Arsenal boss Wenger said: "I'm happy Robin stayed yellow and not red. I don't know if it is history from Holland with Krul or just today's story. They looked a bit nervous during the game.
 
"But Robin gave everything again and our effort was relentless. We kept going until the last seconds."
 
Van Persie and Krul took their row into the tunnel after both being booked before the final whistle, as Arsenal closed the gap on third-placed Tottenham to one point.
 
Although it marred Arsenal's dramatic victory created Premier League history as they were the first team to come from behind to win four games in a row, Wenger was pleased with their effort.

He said: "I have never questioned our spirit. It was a game of absolute commitment from both sides.
 
"We needed something special to beat them and what beat them was our relentless effort to win.
 
"There was never a point when I thought we wouldn't win such is the belief in this team."

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was upset his team conceded so late, especially after Robin van Persie equalised in the first half just 13 seconds after the restart following Hatem Ben Arfa's opener.

Pardew added: "It spilled over. It was a bit of verbal between Krul and Van Persie and it got silly.
 
The Magpies boss did not deny Krul was time-wasting, adding: "Away from home, we're not going to rush things. We have it at our place - goalies do unbelievable things."