Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels his time is better off without Manchester United striker Robin van Persie. Last season Dutch strike star Van Persie notched up 37 goals in 48 games.

But Wenger, whose team visit West Ham today, said: "It's a good thing having more goalscorers. When Van Persie was injured it wasn't just the fact we couldn't score goals any more.

"It was the psychological consequences on team morale.

"Will Van Persie play on Saturday? Players asked me that when he was out for two or three days.

"When you score 30 goals, everyone gives you the ball. Our game at the moment is a little bit more diversified."