By CLIFF HAYES and MARTIN HARDY, 27/06/2009
ARSENAL have a secret weapon in their quest to end their four-year run without a trophy - US President Barack Obama.

America's leader has become a significant figure in manager Arsene Wenger's team talks. Dutch striker Robin van Persie is also fascinated by Obama's incredible success and admits he is trying to copy the great man's demeanour.

So, can Arsenal win the title next season? In the words of Obama himself: Yes they can. Van Persie is reading Obama's autobiography. And he declared: "I want to know more about the man.

"Obama was always calm. Whenever Presidential rival John McCain shouted and screamed, Obama remained in control.

"I try to do the same - if someone provokes me, I don't react. That's the best way. Manager Arsene Wenger has introduced Obama's 'Yes we can' philosophy into the dressing room.

"Nothing is impossible. No one would have said a few years ago that a black man could be US President. No one thinks that Arsenal, with our budget, can win trophies."


The Gunners have been potless since they beat Manchester United to win the 2005 FA Cup. But Wenger believes Obama's influence can provide the missing spark.

Van Persie added: "Wenger is interested in other sports, other leaders. In his team talk before a match he'll always quote someone new, Obama one time, basketball star Michael Jordan the next, then tennis player Justine Henin.

"And Wenger loathes excess. We fly to games in an ordinary plane, not a luxury jet. Air conditioning in hotels is banned, because it's bad for sportsmen. We're not even allowed a fridge.

"All drinks have to be at room temperature - ice-cold drinks are bad for you. These are things that could make that one per cent difference. And as you get older it's the small things that make the difference. But those last few percentage points are the hardest to achieve."

The last four years have been hard on the 25-year-old. He has a framed picture of himself lifting the FA Cup - but none of him with the Premier League or Champions League trophies.


However, his lavish North London home he shares with wife Bouchra and two-year-old son Shaqueel is a shrine to his career and his passion for the beautiful game. A pair of decrepit old boots are pinned to the wall next to a light switch; framed football pictures adorn one wall; a baby's Arsenal shirt affectionately inscribed with the word 'Papa' hangs on another.

There are pictures of Maradona, framed newspaper cuttings and a lifesize poster of Van Persie himself. His bespoke pool table has his own picture imprinted in the baize playing surface. And in another room more than 60 shirts belonging to team-mates and opponents hang from the ceiling - illuminated by a lightbulb engulfed in a football lampshade.

There's Cristiano Ronaldo's. There's Kaka's. They are currently the world's two greatest players - and Van Persie craves that crown. He insisted: "I want to become the best player in the world.

"I find it hard to sleep after a game and I'll get up and write notes about how I played. I study all my matches and am a very harsh critic of myself. I haven't yet reached the level I am capable of. If I were a true world-beater, I would have been voted the best player in Europe, I would have trophies.


"If our team had won the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup maybe I'd have been a candidate for such an award. Only then could I say I'd reached the top - and that's not the case yet.

"But I see the potential at Arsenal. We have to do it. One fact which aggravates me is that in the five years I've been at Arsenal, we've won exactly the same number of trophies as I did at Feyenoord - ONE - that's not enough. When I arrived here, Arsenal were winning trophies for fun.

"But, if everyone is fit, we have a heck of a team and it's up to me to ensure we go out and win these trophies."

Wenger is desperate for Van Persie to sign a new contract. And the player admitted: "I'm not in negotiations with any other club - just Arsenal. I want to become the best player in the world. My career will only be a success when I consider myself the best. Anything less, won't do."

To that aim, Van Persie has added yoga to his weekly training regime and has banned red meat and alcohol from his diet.


At former club Feyenoord he would have a McDonald's and Coke for breakfast! He said: "The first first time I took Bouchra to dinner was to McDonalds, not some fancy restaurant. We got some burgers from the drive-in and sat in the car talking."

Now he is very careful what he puts in his body. He insisted: "My health is important to me. Every season I've had one or two injuries and I've learned that prevention is better than cure.

"Too often players adhere to a training programme without considering whether it's right for them. I need to know why I'm doing a certain exercise. I ask everyone - physios, osteopaths, surgeons. I often had cramp at the end of a game, muscle pains. Our osteopath advised me to stop eating meat.

"I love steak! But I stopped eating meat for a week and noticed the difference immediately. I recovered more quickly. During the season I don't poison my body with alcohol. I know some of the lads in England enjoy a beer. But you'll see those players aren't quite as fast after five years as those who abstain.


"When you get older you look for the little things that can help to make you better. I do yoga once a week and it helps me a lot."

Van Persie is calm and content now. The giant winged hand grenade emblazoned on his T-shirt is the only reminder of his explosive past. He had disciplinary problems at Feyenoord and was dumped in the reserves before his £2.75million move to Arsenal.

His temper was also blasted by Wenger following his red card for an outrageous tackle on Southampton defender Graeme Le Saux at St Mary's in 2005.

And four years ago his marriage almost ended when he was held behind bars for two weeks in his native Holland after a 21-year-old pole-dancer falsely accused him of rape.


The Gunners ace cleared his name, was released without charge and in an interview in new Dutch magazine Heroes he admits: "The affair strengthened our relationship rather than damaged it. And I've come to realise how important Bouchra is to me and what I want out of life.

"We had a long chat about it and we're not concerned about what outsiders say. And, no, I was not mistreated in prison. There was one individual who was a bully but everyone there thought it was unfair that I was being held.

"Wenger was always very positive in his dealings with me. In my quest to be a better person and a better footballer, he has always given me good advice, always helped me, even then. It gave me strength and I'll never forget it."



Bouchra added: "Robin made a mistake, a big one. It would have been easy to leave him. It sounds odd - but I would have regarded that course of action as sinful.

"Robin was foolish, but he is no rapist. What Robin and I have is very special. I don't think I could find anyone else quite like him. We all make mistakes. It may sound strange - but after the affair we became a lot stronger.

"My mother used to say: 'Don't go out with a footballer, they're not serious people'. But they love him now. Robin is special from the moment he enters the stadium to the moment he leaves. During that time he is the world-famous footballer, a role model for many young people. But at home he's part of a normal family, my husband and Papa Robin."

Since the incident the couple - who are expecting their second child - do not go to nightclubs any more.

Van Persie added: "It's not like I don't go out in order to avoid problems. I just prefer being at home. Football takes me away from home for long enough and why should I require alcohol?

"What's the point of going to a club until 3am? It would only mean I wouldn't get enough sleep. The most important things in my life are Bouchra, my son, my family and football.

"Many still see me as the troublemaker I was at Feyenoord. In Rotterdam I went out a lot and had a good time. I struggled with my 'bad-boy' image.

"I've stopped the merry-making. I fell in with the wrong crowd. I don't want to blame anyone - but sometimes you need help. At Arsenal I've discovered how a professional club is run."

All he needs now is a title-winning picture of him to hang on his wall.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie had admitted he wants to become the best player in the world and help the club end their barren run of silverware.

The Dutchman’s future at the Emirates has been the subject of much debate; however, speaking to the News of the World, he insisted he was only in talks with the Gunners.

"I'm not in negotiations with any other club - just Arsenal,” explained the striker.

“I want to become the best player in the world. My career will only be a success when I consider myself the best. Anything less won't do.”

The Dutch international also insisted that the Gunners were quite capable of winning trophies next season and that anything was possible for Arsene Wenger’s side.

“Nothing is impossible. No one would have said a few years ago that a black man could be US President,” said Van Persie.

"No one thinks that Arsenal, with our budget, can win trophies.”

The Arsenal forward also admitted that he was desperate to improve and wanted to become the best footballer on the planet.

“I want to become the best player in the world,” he said.

“If our team had won the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup maybe I'd have been a candidate for such an award. Only then could I say I'd reached the top - and that's not the case yet.”

Yet he also admitted that he was frustrated at the lack of success at the Emirates but insisted Arsenal had the potential to get back to winning ways.

"But I see the potential at Arsenal. We have to do it. One fact which aggravates me is that in the five years I've been at Arsenal, we've won exactly the same number of trophies as I did at Feyenoord - ONE - that's not enough. When I arrived here, Arsenal were winning trophies for fun,” he said.

“But, if everyone is fit, we have a heck of a team and it's up to me to ensure we go out and win these trophies.”

Former Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg has admitted that he is concerned about his old club and that the Gunners’ results over the last few years have made him sad.

The former Swedish international, who now plys his trade in the MLS with the Seattle Sounders, has told the Sunday Mirror that their financial situation is a worry.

“The feeling I get is the financial situation is a bit tight - what is the state of the club?” said Ljungberg.

“Nobody's come out and said why they're not spending. Everyone is asking that.

“I get sad just to look at the results in the last few years.”

The 32-year-old enjoyed phenomenal success during his nine years in north London, winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups.

Indeed, the Swede was part of the 2005 FA Cup winning side, which was the last trophy Arsenal won.

Having now gone four years without any silverware, Ljungberg insisted this was not good enough for a club of Arsenal’s stature.

"When I played there, they always said if you don't win a trophy every year then it was not good enough,” he explained.

“I hope they turn it around.”