"It was a great goal, but it was a great team performance," said Wenger, whose side now head to the Amsterdam Tournament next week.

"We played well and that's the most important thing.

"We know Robin can score special goals and he did that again, but we created lots of chances, developed good team play, and played in the way we like to play at a good pace.

"In a physical championship like in England, you have to be ready."

Van Persie had been out since January when he broke his metatarsal.

"We missed him and Thierry together last season. On the score sheet it was a bit too much," said Wenger, facing up to life without his talisman captain following Henry's £16million move to Barcelona.

"Robin played 17 games last year and Thierry 16, 33 games together. Robin scored 11 goals in 17, Thierry 10 in 16. You could multiply that by two."

Wenger - who hopes to have summer signing Eduardo da Silva available in Holland following an appeal to the Home Office for a work permit - believes Van Persie can handle any added weight of expectation.

"The media always pick one or two out [superstars]. Who will it be? " the Arsenal manager reflected.

"The players who are picked out mustn't forget the team-play, the teamwork and that we must play as a team.

"That's not easy to resist when you're picked out as a star. But Robin can handle [the pressure on him to score the goals]."