The United manager, Keane and the United players he criticised were at United’s training complex at Carrington yesterday for the first time since Keane’s banned interview with the club’s television channel, which was then followed by the Champions’ League defeat to Lille that compounded the sense of crisis at Old Trafford and threatened qualification for the knock-out phase.. 159 minutes per goalJose Antonio ReyesMinutes: 5,083, Goals 18 282.38 minutes per goal. “We shouldn’t close our eyes to the fact these aren’t the biggest teams we’ve beaten,” he said.Bergkamp still places the League title first – “the other trophies are extras”, he said. It is a bonus that Wenger, however, would settle for this season.A tale of two strikersMINUTES PER GOAL IN ARSENAL CAREERRobin Van PersieMinutes: 2,385, Goals: 15. It was only after his brace in the Carling Cup against Sunderland last week that Wenger said he detected Van Persie was back to his “normal level”.

Indeed, Martin Jol, the Tottenham Hotspur coach, was fulsome in his praise of the difference the player made in last Saturday’s derby.That draw sharpened further Arsenal’s desire to win the European Cup but Bergkamp played down expectations. Jose Antonio Reyes, meanwhile, has scored 18 goals at a rate of 282 minutes per goal.Indeed, Van Persie’s figures, a goal every 1.5 games, stand comparison with the best – Thierry Henry (a goal every 1.6 games). However, as Bergkamp, 36, pointed out: “Sometimes it’s easier to come off the bench and change the game, because the pace of the game drops and you’re still fresh.”He’s one of those players who can make a difference, creating something for himself and others, and he’s shown that more this season than in the past. Robin has probably grown up a bit.”Van Persie has endured a troubled time. On the field there have been two red cards, a petulant streak and, occasionally, a lack of patience. Off it and, more seriously, there were rape allegations – still unresolved – which were made over the summer. “And I’m happy to be around him every day to learn.”Indeed, in his post-match comments, Wenger offered an interesting observation when discussing Van Persie’s impact from the bench.

“When you look at his goal-scoring rate, with the number of minutes he has played and the number of goals he has scored, it’s amazing.”The statistics bear that out. Van Persie has scored five times this season, at an average of 120 minutes per goal, and has 15 goals overall for Arsenal, at an average of 159 minutes per goal since he arrived at the club for £2.75m from Feyenoord in June last year. The 22-year-old may, just, be the replacement for Dennis Bergkamp.
It is a succession that has concerned Wenger for some time. Both players are also acutely aware that they will be inevitably linked – not just because of the position, and nationality, they share but because Van Persie has never made any secret of the fact that the player he admires most is his fellow Dutchman.”He’s the right example for me,” said Van Persie after scoring his two goals against Sparta. There was, in the stress-free demolition of Sparta Prague, further compelling evidence that Robin van Persie may be able to do exactly what manager Ars? Wenger hoped he would – and many feared was impossible.

“We are in a very, very good position and a point against Vitoria Guimaraes [in the next group game] should see us qualify.” The initial signs suggested this would be a testing night before Kevin Davies twice had the chance to ease Bolton nerves with an early goal. The forward though missed an easy header from Nolan’s cross before shooting wide when sent clear by Gary Speed.Relief finally came, though, in the 24th minute when the visiting defence failed to clear Bruno N’Gotty’s clipped free-kick, allowing the ball to drop inside the six-yard box where Nolan followed up after Stelios Giannakopoulos’ shot was saved. With the pitch rapidly turning into a lifeless bog, the second half produced significantly more splashing than passing and although Jussi Jaaskelainen was twice called into action, Bolton survived to nudge themselves closer to the knock-out stages.Bolton Wanderers (4-5-1) : Jaaskelainen; O’Brien, N’Gotty, Ben Haim, Gardner; Giannakopoulos, Nolan (Diouf, 85), Faye, Nakata (Okocha, 66), Speed; Davies (Borgetti, 74). Substitutes not used: Walker (gk), Jaidi, Vaz Te, Fojut.Zenit St Petersburg (4-4-2) :Contofalsky; Flachbart, , Hagen, Vjestica, Skrtel (Gorshkov, 25); Anyukov, Sumulikoski, Denisov, Vlasov (Kozlov, 89); Kerzhakov, Arshavin. Substitutes not used: Malafeev (gk), Cadikovsky, Poskus, Korzhanov, Stroev.Referee: M Trefoloni (Italy).. Arsenal’s early qualification for the last 16 of the Champions’ League brought with it more than a novelty value for a team that has traditionally struggled in the competition.