That's my boy

Two goals from my boy Robin saw us take all three points from Charlton at the Valley in a 2-1 win. It was a good game, both sides had chances that they didn't take, and the Addicks should have had a penalty for a handball by William Gallas, but overall I think we were good value for the win so, after winning five on the bounce, we now have to wait two weeks for our next match thanks to the cunting International break.

Going forward we looked fantastic. Henry, Fabregas and Hleb in particular were knocking the ball around in little triangles with ease, popping quick, neat passes to each other and creating numerous chances. Cesc himself was probably the guiltiest in not scoring on Saturday, he had two very good chances, a header from an Henry cross the best.

Charlton scored when a long ball to Hasselbaink found the Addicks striker patently not offside, and out back for was all over the place. He squared for Bent to beat Lehmann without an Arsenal defender within ten yards of him, and no one was particularly trying hard to remedy that. It was a shocking defensive lapse to be honest. That said, it gave us the opportunity to come from behind to win a game in the Premiership for the first time in over a year (really, it's been that long since we conceded first and went on to take all three points), and that's what we did.

RvP's first goal followed a lovely move. The ball was played down the right to Henry, who megged a Charlton defender to find Hleb, who turned two defenders inside out with some lovely footwork before clipping the ball across to Robin. One touch to take the ball under control, another to slide it past the keeper, and we were back to 1-1.

Then, just after the break, van Persie scored one of the most technically brilliant goals I have ever seen in my life. Hleb released Eboue down the right, who whipped in a meaningless ball to the edge of the box, not an Arsenal player in sight. Then Robin burst past a Charlton defender, leapt three feet in the air and caught the ball on the volley whilst it was coming across him with his left foot, blasting the ball into the top right hand corner. You have to see it to believe it. Think back to that di Canio goal that won goal of the season about five years ago. This was better.

I think we all knew that van Persie was capable of this type of goal. He's already scored some crackers in his Arsenal career, including two in an FA Cup semi against Blackburn, and another against the same opponents in the league. Last November he scored eight goals in eight games and was named Barclaycard Player of the Month before a spate of injuries interrupted his development. I think if he can keep fit and scoring he will mature into the consistently class player that we know he can be. He's got so much going for him: tall, powerful, fantastic shot, intelligent football brain, remarkable touch and technique, and an arrogance and air to him that I like to see, Dennis had the same temperament. What Dennis didn't have is the petulance that can plague Robin at times, and he needs to shift this.

Further problems have been cited concerning whether Thierry and Robin can play together, with some alluding that their styles don't complement one another. I liked the fact that Thierry was the first across to congratulate Robin for his wonder strike, and I hope that they can continue to play together. He's also got a habit of scoring the spectular, missing the mundane, and he really should have had a hat trick from Saturday's game after missing Thierry's low cross.

Now we have International nonsense. Bugger.