EUROPA LEAGUES

Hit man Robin strikes again! Van Persie picks up prestigious PFA award

been named the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.

The 28-year-old Holland international has scored 27 Barclays Premier League goals this season for the Gunners - his most fruitful campaign for the club - and was humbled to be recognised by his peers.

'If other people are saying it, it is special, but it is even more special if your opponents are saying it,' he said.

Recognition: Robin van Persie (centre) has been hailed as the player of the year

'It is very special because you are playing against them week in week out and every single player does everything to win and in the end if they make up their minds that I'm the best player it is a big honour.'

Van Persie may have picked up the top individual honour but he was quick to point out it would not have been possible without his Arsenal team-mates.

'Without them I could not have achieved it,' he said.

'For example Theo Walcott, he has given me more than 12 assists and I do really appreciate that.'

Winner: Van Persie has had an excellent year

Van Persie was utilised mainly as a second striker, and occasionally out on the wing, in the early stages of his Gunners career after being signed by manager Arsene Wenger from Feyenoord in 2004.

But he has flourished since switching to the centre-forward role - despite initially not having been convinced he could make the transition.

He said: 'Now I am (confident). To be fair, when I first went there I wasn't really as confident and I wasn't really sure I could do it. It took a bit of time but after a couple of months slowly realised I could do a good job there.' 

Former Arsenal forward Alan Smith believes the Gunners' skipper has done a great job in changing the way he plays.

Tribute: Van Persie hailed the contribution of Theo Walcott

'He is a class act and I can't see any reason why he can't score many more goals, if Arsenal can keep hold of him of course - which they really need to do,' he said.

'I think if you're playing as an out-an-out striker rather than a classic number 10, which is what he is naturally, you are going to get into more goalscoring opportunities but that is the impressive thing from Robin's point of view the way he has adapted his game.

'The runs he has learned to make on the back of defenders is amazing really, he plays like an orthodox striker now.'

 

PFA DIVISIONAL TEAMS OF THE YEAR 

Premier League: Hart (Man City), Walker (Spurs), Kompany (Man City), Coloccini (Newcastle), Baines (Everton), Silva (Man City), Parker (Spurs), Y Toure (Man City), Bale (Spurs), Van Persie (Arsenal), Rooney (Man Utd). 

Championship: Davis (Southampton), Clyne (Crystal Palace), Tomkins (West Ham), Davies (Birmingham), Harte (Reading); Lallana (Southampton), Whittingham (Cardiff), Noble (West Ham), M Phillips (Blackpool); Lambert (Southampton), Jay Rodriguez (Burnley). 

League One: Hamer (Charlton), Hunt (Huddersfield), Morrison (Charlton), Maguire (Sheff Utd), Wiggins (Charlton), Jackson (Charlton), Quinn (Sheff Utd), Gleeson (MK Dons), Potter (MK Dons), Rhodes (Huddersfield), Evans (Sheff Utd). 

League Two: Olejnik (Torquay), Caddis (Swindon), McFadzean (Crawley), Sharps (Shrewsbury), Nicholson (Torquay), Ritchie (Swindon), Pack (Cheltenham), O'Kane (Torquay), Mansell (Torquay), McLeod (Barnet), Barnett (Crawley, now Peterborough).

RVP FACTFILE

1983: Born August 6 in Rotterdam. Plays for Excelsior Rotterdam and Feyenoord youth teams and capped by Holland at under-19 and under-21 level.

2002: January Signs three-and-a-half-year deal with Feyenoord. Drafted into the first-team squad because of injury shortages at the age of 18.

February 21: Features as a 57th-minute substitute in UEFA Cup fourth-round, first-leg clash against Rangers. Plays from the start in the 3-2 second leg win at home which booked his team's progress.

May 8: Plays in Feyenoord's 3-2 UEFA Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund in Rotterdam.

Voted the Dutch PFA's Best Young Talent for 2001-02. Suffers a back injury which kept him in plaster over the summer of 2002 but was fit for the start of the new season.

2002-03: Ends the season with eight goals from 28 games as Feyenoord finish runners-up in the Dutch Cup. Played twice in the Champions League.

2004: January 20: Feyenoord reveal they have rejected a bid for Van Persie from Arsenal. Makes 32 appearances for Feyenoord, scoring six goals.

April 28: Arsenal reveal they have signed Van Persie on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

August 8: Makes his debut as a substitute in the 3-1 FA Community Shield win over Manchester United.

October 27: Scores on his competitive debut, a 2-1 League Cup win over Manchester City.

2005: Feb 26: Publicly criticised by Arsene Wenger after being sent off for a rash tackle on Southampton's Graeme Le Saux.

June 4: Makes Holland debut in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Romania.

November: Named Player of the Month after beginning the season with eight goals in eight starts.

2006: January 4: Signs new five-year contract with the club but two days later suffers a foot injury against Cardiff.

June: Played in all four of Holland's matches at the World Cup.

2007: January 21: Season ended by a broken foot suffered against Manchester United.

October: Begins life as Arsenal's main striker following Thierry Henry's departure with seven goals in 10 matches, but then suffers a knee injury on international duty, leaving him out for two months. He then suffers a series of minor injuries for the rest of the season.

2009: January 3: Captains Arsenal for the first time in the absence of Cesc Fabregas and Manuel Almunia.

July 8: After several months of talks and with his existing deal entering its final year, signs a new four-year contract.

November 14: After another strong start to the season, injures his ankle on international duty, ruling him out for five months.

2010: Misses two months at the start of the season with an ankle injury.

July 11: Plays in the World Cup final as Holland lose 1-0 to Spain.

2011: January 22: Scores his first career hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Wigan.

March 8: Sent off in the Champions League last-16 match against Barcelona, receiving a second yellow card for shooting one second after the referee had blown for offside, with the Dutchman insisting he could not hear amid a crowd of 95,000. Arsenal lost 4-3 on aggregate.

May 8: Scored against Stoke to make it a Premier League record eight straight away league games in which he had a goal.

August 11: Named Arsenal captain after the departure of Fabregas.

September 2: Scores four in Holland's record-breaking 11-0 win over San Marino.

September 24: Goal against Bolton takes his Arsenal tally to 100.

December 31: Scores in the 1-0 win over QPR to take his tally for the calendar year to 35, one short of Alan Shearer's Premier League record.

2012: April 22: Named PFA Player of the Year.

Reigning champion Vettel holds off Raikkonen for first win of season in Bahrain

McLaren saw their early-season advantage evaporate in the baking heat as mistakes, misfortune and mechanical failure reduced Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button to also-rans. 

To compound their misery, the championship took on an all too familiar look as Sebastian Vettel returned to winning ways to take over at the top of the drivers' championship and help Red Bull overhaul McLaren in the constructors' standings. 

Hamilton, having started second on the grid, was forced to settle for eighth place as McLaren bungled two of his three visits to the garage. At least he saw the chequered flag. 

Sealed with a kiss: Sebastian Vettell celebrates winning the Bahrain Grand Prix

Button did not even make it to the finish line courtesy of an exhaust problem while running in fifth, which caused a puncture four laps from the end and forced his retirement two laps later.

If both drivers were feeling pretty low, that was nothing compared to the mechanic who wields the gun to change their left rear tyres. 

So distraught was he at holding up Hamilton twice, first for 9.9 seconds and then 12.2 - an age in Formula One terms - that he was pulled out of the pit crew for McLaren's final round of stops. 

The same mechanic delayed Button in China last weekend, costing him any chance of challenging Nico Rosberg for the win. And both McLaren drivers were left wondering why their team were not capable of matching the pit-lane slickness of their rivals. 

Top of the tree: Vettel (centre) celebrates on the podium with Kimi Raikkonen (left) and Romain Grosjean

Button said: 'One of my stops was for six seconds, which is almost twice as long as the time we should be doing.' 

Hamilton added: 'The pit stops were not quick enough. It is the team's job to sort that out and that is what they will do.' 

In fairness, McLaren's lack of speed meant they were never really in the hunt for the podium and team principal Martin Whitmarsh conceded their performance had not been good. 

'That was the classic bad day at the office,' he said. 'We had two bad pit stops, we had a puncture caused by an exhaust failure and we were slow. We were killing the rear tyres and we were killing them very quickly, so the drivers didn't really stand a chance.'

It was not for the want of trying and while this grand prix did not hit the heights of last weekend's stunning race in Shanghai, there was plenty to entertain the crowd who put aside the political upheaval in Bahrain to come to the Sakhir Circuit. 

Leading the chase: The two Lotus drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean chased Vettel in vain

Storming start: Vettel was quickest off the blocks and kept his lead until the chequered flag

The argument over whether this race should have taken place at all in a country facing accusations of serious human rights abuses will doubtless run and run. But mercifully, the event passed without any issues. 

Hamilton was involved in perhaps the most dramatic incident of the race when, after his first stop, he emerged behind his good mate Rosberg. An extreme blocking manoeuvre by the Mercedes driver forced Hamilton to put all four wheels on the desert sand to get by. With friends like that, who needs enemies? 

'I thought it was Michael for a second,' quipped Hamilton in reference to the oft-criticised tactics of Herr Schumacher. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was given the same treatment by Rosberg but after a long, post-race stewards inquiry, all concerned were cleared of wrongdoing.

Blunder: Lewis Hamilton's chances of victory in Bahrain were ruined by a botched pit-stop

Also worthy of note was the performance of Paul di Resta, who finished sixth despite a difficult weekend for Force India. 

Their decision not to participate in Friday's second practice session - preferring to leave the circuit before nightfall after four of their mechanics were caught up in a battle between anti-government protesters and riot police - prompted speculation that their absence from TV screens during Saturday qualifying was a punishment by Bernie Ecclestone. 

But there were plenty of shots yesterday of Di Resta, who made the most of a two-stop strategy. The Scot even led for a few hundred metres before Vettel retook the position he has occupied more than any other driver in recent times.

The world champion reprised last season's pattern of grabbing pole and then establishing a healthy advantage from the off, pulling away from Hamilton at almost a second a lap. As McLaren's afternoon fell apart, it was left to Kimi Raikkonen to keep Vettel honest. 

Out on his own: Sebastian Vettel led from start to finish to win in Bahrain

Trouble brewing?: Smoke is seen on the horizon during the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix

But having reeled in his quarry, the Finn blew his best opportunity to record his first win since returning to F1 after a two-year absence. 

'I got one chance on Sebastian but I chose the wrong side under braking, so that was it really,' said Raikkonen in his customary dead-pan tone.

At least he had Vettel and Red Bull's team principal worried, with Christian Horner admitting: 'There were a few clenched buttocks on the pit-wall!' 

That said, if Vettel and Red Bull are really back up to speed, any further cases of squeaky bum time could be few and far between.

 

 

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It's back on! United blow chance to close in on title as rivals City move to within three points... and the derby is next up

1 UNITED P 35 PTS 83 GD +54
2 CITY      P 35 PTS 80 GD +60

United fixtures: Apr 30 - Man City (a), May 6 - Swansea (h), May 13 - Sunderland (a)

City fixtures: Apr 30 - Man United (h), May 6 - Newcastle (a), May 13 - QPR (h)

The Manchester rivals are facing a derby day title showdown next Monday after City pulled to within three points of United.

After Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were held to a thrilling 4-4 draw  by Everton at Old Trafford, Roberto Mancini’s City took full advantage with a 2-0 victory to relegate Wolves at Molineux.

With a superior goal difference, City will go top of the Barclays Premier League if they win at home a week today. 

Asked if it will his biggest derby, Ferguson said: ‘Yes, definitely. Game on.’

Watch out! Manchester City celebrate Sergio Aguero's goal against lowly Wolves

Can't bear to look: Wayne Rooney is left shellshocked after Everton's epic comeback

 

Ten minutes from the end of the Old Trafford clash at Everton, it seemed United would be preparing for the ultimate act of revenge after that 6-1 mauling by the Blues in October.

But goals from Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar secured a staggering 4-4 draw for Everton in the latest of a sequence of amazing results this season, which now mean United go to Manchester City knowing if they lose they will surrender the initiative completely.

'Yes, definitely,' said Ferguson, when asked if it was the most important derby he has known. 'We've given them the initiative, there is no doubt about that.

Blue must be kidding! Everton celebrate the equaliser in front of their jubilant fans

'It makes the game at the Etihad a really important game. A decider really. There has been an expectancy from City that it could be their decider, but it's our decider too.'

Twice in the second half United established two-goal leads after initially falling behind to Jelavic's opener.

Wayne Rooney scored two more goals to take his seasonal tally to 33, one adrift of his best tally, and 190 overall, fourth on United's all-time list.

When Danny Welbeck and Nani scored in the space of two minutes around the hour mark, it appeared victory was secure.

Gr-eight: Steven Pienaar steers home the crucial equaliser for Everton

Incredible: Pienaar races away to celebrate after completing Everton's fightback

But Ferguson was stunned by the collapse of a team that had kept six clear sheets in its previous seven games.

'There were defensive lapses,' he said. 'Their goals were really soft. It was a real shock for us to defend like that. It was a travesty of a result in some ways but we made it difficult for ourselves and if you look at our history we keep doing that.

'We've thrown a game away that we should be coasting. But we didn't so we have given ourselves a difficult task.'

I've got no time for this! David Moyes has a chuckle as Sir Alex Ferguson makes his point

Everton manager David Moyes said he felt insulted his side's character should have been questioned, even though they twice found themselves two adrift just eight days after they were beaten by old rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final.

'I am really disappointed people would question their character,' said Moyes. 'It is a bit insulting because I would hate to think people either wouldn't understand me or the culture of Everton FC.

'At 4-2, did I think we were going to get back into it? I thought it would be very tough.

'But I felt we would definitely score one more goal, it was whether there would be enough time to get an equaliser.'

City manager Roberto Mancini played down his side's title chances and pointed to their three remaining games against United, Newcastle and QPR.

He told Sky Sports 1: 'I am pleased with this form but now we have three very difficult games, it could not be more difficult.

'We are there - I think they have a bigger chance, more than us in this moment. But we have another chance.'

Killer blow: Aguero slides home the opening goal at Molineux

Back in it: Roberto Mancini looks on as his side edged their way back into the title race

Of the performance at Molineux, Mancini was dissatisfied, saying: '(It was) so-so. I don't think it was a good performance like against Norwich and West Brom, our performance was not perfect.

'We needed to win this game, maybe we thought before the game it was easy but I told them before it was difficult.

'We had more chances to score - for this I am unhappy. I think in the end it was important to win this game.'

He also offered commiserations to Wolves, saying: 'I am sorry for them being relegated. They play very strong always, every game they have a strong mentality.'

Moyes conceded his side enjoyed a bit of luck when Patrice Evra's header came back off the post before the late drama.

However, the Toffees chief was making no apologies given he was already furious referee Mike Jones had not halted play in the build-up to United's second goal for treatment to Steven Pienaar.

'I was moaning at the referee because he made a decision for them and didn't equal it up for us,' he said. 'I couldn't understand it. It was a hard day from that point of view.'

Moyes was delighted with the final outcome though, which keeps Everton on track to finish the season above Liverpool, in addition to providing an unexpected twist in the title battle.

Pinpoint: Samir Nasri fires home the second goal for City in their comfortable win

Loving it! Nasri is congratulated on his goal by Carlos Tevez

'We have reminded people that we are still here,' said Moyes. 'We are not a bad team. Since January we have been a very good team. When you lose a semi-final against your local rivals it is tough to take.

'The message today was that we were going to go toe-to-toe with Manchester United. Only in the last minute were we hanging on a little bit.

'But how many teams are going to get back into it from a position like that at Manchester United? It will make next week's game at Manchester City a bit more tidy.'