Van Persie has the last laugh

Van Persie: No surprise

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• Gilberto Silva

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Robin van Persie says he is not at all surprised by Arsenal's superb start to the season.

The Dutch striker struck the only goal against Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday night as Arsene Wenger's side recorded their ninth straight win of the campaign.

The result not only put Arsenal in pole position to qualify for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages but also matched the record of successive victories set by Wenger's unbeaten team of 2003/04.

Surprise

Van Persie said: "At the start of the season I said we will surprise - and everyone was laughing.

"Now 12 games into the season, everyone says, 'Ooh, look at Arsenal, they are a good team'. This I knew before and my mind has not changed.

"I started training early this season with Theo [Walcott] and after, when the rest of the lads came back in, I saw a great togetherness and belief and big quality. This is what I saw day in, day out.

"If we can stay together we can do amazing stuff in the future. We are progressing every week we play.

"If we just play our normal game, not many teams can stop us. We can win

trophies. Why not? This is our aim."

Fantastic

Brazilian midfielder Gilberto, a member of the championship winning side of 2004, added: "I am not surprised how well they are doing because I am with them every day on the training ground.

"The quality in which they do their job - the pass and movement, the goals -

is fantastic.

"If one of the players is not in condition to play, another replaces him and will do a great job."