FA Cup - Van Persie fires Arsenal to win

Eurosport - Sun, 04 Jan 08:18:00 2009

Robin van Persie fired Arsenal to a 3-1 FA Cup third-round win over Plymouth Argyle at the Emirates Stadium.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 FA Cup Arsenal B Arsenal-Plymouth Van Persie - 0

The Netherlands striker opened the scoring with a header just after the second-half restart.

The hosts were quickest out of the blocks after an indifferent first half which saw genuine chances few and far between.

On loan-Manchester United defender David Gray doubled Arsenal's advantage three minutes later when he turned past his own keeper as Nicklas Bendtner stretched to convert Aaron Ramsey's centre.

Plymouth captain Karl Duguid bundled one back on 53 minutes after Arsenal failed to clear a corner, but Van Persie hammered an 84th-minute strike in off the crossbar after keeper Romain Larrieu parried his initial lob.

Arsenal could have extended their lead further with Samir Nasri, Keiran Gibbs and Abou Diaby foiled by Larrieu and the woodwork.

Argyle came close to a late goal when Steven MacLean forced a good stop from Lukasz Fabianski, but Arsenal were in control and held on for a comfortable win in the end.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 15 of 35

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  1. DO BETTER THAN CHELSEA SHOULD NOT BE THE FOCUS BUT TO WIN SOMETHING FOR THE YEAR

    From ayomoshe2, on Sat 3 Jan 6:55PM

  2. huh

    From andy, on Sat 3 Jan 6:44PM

  3. gunners 4 life

    From john, on Sat 3 Jan 6:42PM

  4. @#$% The spurs and all there fans
    ARSENAL WILL WIN THIS CUP!!

    From Tuner, on Sat 3 Jan 6:14PM

  5. A much needed win. But lets not get carried away!!

    From tc, on Sat 3 Jan 6:13PM

  6. That's a damn shame for Plymouth, they played great in the first half.
    I'm saying this as a Argyle supporter.

    From aaron1990, on Sat 3 Jan 6:09PM

  7. to man10t14....

    we avnt hardly bought any1 yet!!!

    From J Bails, on Sat 3 Jan 6:07PM

  8. These days each game we play my heart is in my mouth until the final whistle. What sort of life is that for a footbal fan Mr. Wenger?? Please give us some confidence. Yes did better than Chelsea and everyone did better than Man City. Money doesn't buy you a team......Discuss. I think the Japanese have a ritual for abject failure?

    From man10t14, on Sat 3 Jan 6:02PM

  9. i may be a spurs supporter but you did way bette than chelsea

    From yid of the yids, on Sat 3 Jan 5:44PM

  10. Better than chelsea, but we should have kept a clean sheet

    From Shannen, on Sat 3 Jan 5:14PM

  11. You beat Plymouth and say you are going to win the FA cup? get real!

    From andrewjonharrison, on Sat 3 Jan 5:13PM

  12. Thank God!

    From Nasrin S, on Sat 3 Jan 5:12PM

  13. aresnal for the cup and this could be the turning point in our season com on the gooners

    From k.wimbush, on Sat 3 Jan 5:10PM

  14. Yes we did better than chelsea but we need to do more

    From charles, on Sat 3 Jan 5:07PM

  15. Well, we did better than Chelsea.

    From The Northerner, on Sat 3 Jan 5:02PM
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