Its only Ray Parlour
03 Aug 2004, 04:02 AM
Van Persie: Fans spat at me
By Leo Spall, Evening Standard
3 August 2004
Robin van Persie was attacked by two men when he returned to the Netherlands with Arsenal.
The Dutch striker was spat on and had his car kicked repeatedly while driving with his wife in Amsterdam last Friday night.
Both were shocked by the unprovoked attack but neither was hurt.
The incident took place after Arsenal's goalless draw against River Plate. Van Persie was nearing the Hilton Hotel, where Arsene Wenger's squad stayed during last weekend's Amsterdam Tournament.
It was the first time he had been home with his new club after signing for them from Feyenoord for £3million in April.
Van Persie, 20, said: "Two guys on bikes started yelling at me and spat at me through the open window. They kicked the car three or four times and spat again.
"They drove after us but could not keep up. It was unbelievable."
Sadly for Van Persie, it was not the first time he has been attacked in Amsterdam.
As a player for Ajax's bitter rivals Feyenoord, he was hurt when dozens of fans invaded the pitch at the end of a reserve team game in April, shortly before he agreed to join Arsenal.
The hooligans left him with severe bruises on his neck and back. A teammate was taken to hospital with concussion after being rescued by officials and Ajax players.
Van Persie, who was jeered by his own Feyenoord fans after the switch to Highbury became public, has vowed that the latest incident will not affect him. He discussed it with Arsenal team-mate Dennis Bergkamp but decided not to report it to police.
However, just hours before he was confronted by the thugs, Van Persie had said: "What happened in April is history to me.
"It was done by a few guys who cannot be called real fans. I want to forget about it, and hope things like that will never happen again."
There were other problems for Van Persie at the Amsterdam ArenA last weekend. Every time he touched the ball during Arsenal's two games he was loudly jeered.
During Sunday night's goalless draw with Ajax the reception he received from a capacity crowd was particularly venomous.
Dutch commentators described the crowd's reaction at the pre-season tournament as shameful and Ajax coach Ronald Koeman criticised his club's fans.
Koeman said: "Van Persie is a great talent. After what happened here a couple of months ago he deserved a different reception. That was appalling."
The Arsenal striker handled it well and refused to hide, taking set-pieces and dribbling past opponents after coming on a second-half substitute.
Yesterday, he was rewarded for that and the way he has quickly settled at Arsenal with his first call-up to the Dutch senior squad for the friendly against Sweden on 18 August.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will have Thierry Henry back for the start of the season. He came back from his summer break complaining of a a sore achilles tendon, a legacy of Euro 2004. He plans to be back in training by the end of the week and though the Community Shield clash against Manchester United in Cardiff on Sunday is too soon, he looks certain to be ready to face Everton on the opening day.
By Leo Spall, Evening Standard
3 August 2004
Robin van Persie was attacked by two men when he returned to the Netherlands with Arsenal.
The Dutch striker was spat on and had his car kicked repeatedly while driving with his wife in Amsterdam last Friday night.
Both were shocked by the unprovoked attack but neither was hurt.
The incident took place after Arsenal's goalless draw against River Plate. Van Persie was nearing the Hilton Hotel, where Arsene Wenger's squad stayed during last weekend's Amsterdam Tournament.
It was the first time he had been home with his new club after signing for them from Feyenoord for £3million in April.
Van Persie, 20, said: "Two guys on bikes started yelling at me and spat at me through the open window. They kicked the car three or four times and spat again.
"They drove after us but could not keep up. It was unbelievable."
Sadly for Van Persie, it was not the first time he has been attacked in Amsterdam.
As a player for Ajax's bitter rivals Feyenoord, he was hurt when dozens of fans invaded the pitch at the end of a reserve team game in April, shortly before he agreed to join Arsenal.
The hooligans left him with severe bruises on his neck and back. A teammate was taken to hospital with concussion after being rescued by officials and Ajax players.
Van Persie, who was jeered by his own Feyenoord fans after the switch to Highbury became public, has vowed that the latest incident will not affect him. He discussed it with Arsenal team-mate Dennis Bergkamp but decided not to report it to police.
However, just hours before he was confronted by the thugs, Van Persie had said: "What happened in April is history to me.
"It was done by a few guys who cannot be called real fans. I want to forget about it, and hope things like that will never happen again."
There were other problems for Van Persie at the Amsterdam ArenA last weekend. Every time he touched the ball during Arsenal's two games he was loudly jeered.
During Sunday night's goalless draw with Ajax the reception he received from a capacity crowd was particularly venomous.
Dutch commentators described the crowd's reaction at the pre-season tournament as shameful and Ajax coach Ronald Koeman criticised his club's fans.
Koeman said: "Van Persie is a great talent. After what happened here a couple of months ago he deserved a different reception. That was appalling."
The Arsenal striker handled it well and refused to hide, taking set-pieces and dribbling past opponents after coming on a second-half substitute.
Yesterday, he was rewarded for that and the way he has quickly settled at Arsenal with his first call-up to the Dutch senior squad for the friendly against Sweden on 18 August.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will have Thierry Henry back for the start of the season. He came back from his summer break complaining of a a sore achilles tendon, a legacy of Euro 2004. He plans to be back in training by the end of the week and though the Community Shield clash against Manchester United in Cardiff on Sunday is too soon, he looks certain to be ready to face Everton on the opening day.