Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton: Robin van Persie sticks it to the Toffees on Arsenal’s 125th anniversary

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed another “special” goal from Robin van Persie after the Gunners skipper netted a stunning volley to mark the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations with a 1-0 win over Everton.

The in-form Dutchman took his tally to 19 for the season with a superb left-foot strike on 70 minutes which proved enough to send Arsenal back into the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

Everton had defended well and looked dangerous on the break, but were undone by a moment of pure genius, which was applauded by Arsenal’s record goalscorer Thierry Henry in the stands.

Wenger said: “Today Robin got us a goal which was at the moment of the game where we struggled a little bit to create chances. He delivered something special and three important points.”

Wenger admitted there was “not much more to say” about the superb form of his captain, who has cracked more than 30 goals in 2011. “Robin has scored an exceptional goal, he said himself he was not in his best of days, but what is important is you are efficient,” Wenger added. “That is what it is to be professional, when you do not feel the greatest.”

Arsenal legends including Frank McLintock, Charlie George, David O’Leary, George Graham, Robert Pires, Jens Lehmann and Henry – who yesterday had a bronze statue of him unveiled outside the ground – all helped make up a guard of honour as van Persie led the current side on to the field. And Wenger believes his side dealt with the whole occasion well. “Today was a historic day for us so it’s not easy to keep the focus right with so many people here and the celebration before the game with everybody coming back,” he said. “But we were a bit historical today as well because we won 1-0.”