SOCCER ROUND-UP: ROBIN VAN PERSIE was in no mood to wash his dirty linen in public. The Arsenal striker, the adrenaline still pumping after his two goals had defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and revived a faltering challenge for the title, was midway through a eulogy about the club's "team spirit" when the question was put to him.

Van Persie was widely believed to have been the unnamed player to whom former captain William Gallas had referred when he suggested that someone had proved a disruptive influence at the club both on and off the pitch. Van Persie's response to the charge reflected his savvy and growing maturity.

"Are you suggesting that William was talking about me?" he asked. "I don't know that, because he never told me anything and I didn't see my name in the papers, so I never felt that he was speaking about me. For me, there isn't a problem."

The pair are not exactly bosom buddies and their body language towards each other has been the subject of great scrutiny since Gallas went public the week before last with his criticisms. They embraced after the pre-match huddle at Stamford Bridge, and although Gallas did not celebrate either of Van Persie's goals, preferring to remain behind the halfway line, he was not the only one. The full-backs Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy, who is a close friend of Van Persie's, also opted to stay back and conserve their energy.

As the manager, Arsene Wenger, had predicted, a big win can work wonders. But in many respects, the true test of Arsenal's mettle is to come. Wenger will field his second string in the League Cup quarter-final tie at Burnley tonight, but it is against Wigan Athletic in the Premier League on Saturday when the serious business will resume.

The corner Wenger had hoped had been turned after the 2-1 win over Manchester United at the beginning of last month was exposed as an illusion by defeats against Aston Villa and Manchester City. This time there can be no margin for error.

"You are cautious because of what happened before (following the United game)," said Wenger. "I believe this is where we can show that we have learned and we can keep the temperature up, that is the target of the next game.

"The Premier League is difficult because as soon as you drop a bit off your level, you don't win. That has changed since five years ago. You can be in trouble against every single team."

• Guardian Service