Robin the rich as Persie makes up for his moment of madness

Van-tasy football

From David Harrison at Ewood Park

ROBIN VAN PERSIE found himself back in Arsene Wenger's good books — even if the Arsenal boss hasn't completely forgiven him for a moment of madness.

Dutch striker Van Persie was drafted into the line-up only half an hour before the kick-off, when Swedish ace Freddie Ljungberg aggravated an ankle injury during the warm-up.

It was Van Persie's first appearance since he was sent off against Southampton a month ago — an incident which earned him a scathing rebuke from his manager.

But he redressed the balance with the winning goal and a match-

winning display against Blackburn and admitted he had learned a brutally tough lesson.

Van Persie said: "It was a hard time for me after the Southampton game. I got a red card and it was stupid.

"That was all a month ago and it has been a hard month for me.

"I had to train hard and keep quiet and today I am happy again.

"The one thing I learned from the Southampton match was not to do tricks with the ball in midfield.

"I had a chat with the boss about it and I know that next time I will get rid of it quicker.

Blood

"I had to get ready mentally for this game very quickly because I thought I would be sitting on the bench.

"But in situations like that you have to be strong mentally — and I think I was."

Highbury boss Wenger was happy that Van Persie had learnt his lesson after his rush of blood against the Saints and believes he can still become a key figure in his first-team plans.

Wenger said: "It doesn't make up for his sending off at Southampton. It's not that I don't forgive him but you have to accept with young players they will make mistakes.

"But it cost us two points at Southampton and they are still lost. It's part of his rehabilitation and he was able to show another part of his talent. He gave a team-orientated performance, not a selfish one.

"He has the talent and there is still more to come out.

"There is something special in there.

"He was not due to start the match but it shows you that — sometimes in football — there are strange coincidences.

"He took his chance well but he still has to show that on 10, 15 or 20 occasions."

A very young Arsenal line-up, lacking SEVEN regular first-teamers, struggled to make any impact in the opening half hour.

But they were easily able to soak up the pressure presented by a lethargic Blackburn side.

And once they had taken the lead through Van Persie's 43rd-minute goal they rarely looked in danger of surrendering it.

The striker turned neatly between Andy Todd and Ryan Nelson before walking the ball round keeper Brad Friedel and into the empty net with tremendous composure.

Arsenal tightened their grip after the break and the hard-working Jose Reyes showed his commitment to the cause despite persistent rumours that he is homesick and wants to return to Spain.

He linked up superbly with Van Persie and almost added a second goal in the 46th minute when Yank Friedel superbly saved his close-range effort.

Then Reyes set up a chance for Van Persie only for the Dutchman to shoot against the crossbar.

Arsenal adopted a smothering tactic as the game wore on but almost threw victory away when Steven Reid broke away during injury-time only to shoot wide of the target with keeper Jens Lehmann to beat.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes believed his players had run out of steam after their recent efforts to claw their way clear of the relegation zone.

But he insists they will regroup and be ready again both to secure survival in the Premiership and to tackle the Gunners in the FA Cup semi-final in three weeks' time.

Hughes said: "Today we paid for the efforts of recent weeks when we have made a fantastic bid to climb the table. It caught up with us.

"It was also the first day of any warm weather for some time and I think that sapped some of our energy.

Examination

"I thought the game was allowed to be too fragmented towards the end. It was stop-start stuff.

"But Arsenal are good at taking the sting out of the game and they will view it as a very professional performance.

"But we know we are in a situation were we will have to regroup and come again — and we will do.

"We had a number of players who are not at the level they need to be.

"We need a high ratio of players to be playing at their best level — because we cannot afford to carry too many."

Wenger still has his sights set on the runners-up spot and to close the gap on the run-away leaders Chelsea.

He was delighted that so many youngsters came through a thorough examination and said: "We were a young side before the game and we were even younger when we lost Freddie Ljungberg just before the kick-off.

"It became almost an under-21 team.

"They went into a game which was physical on a pitch which wasn't the best for our football and I think we can take a lot of positives from it."