AW “Gervinho was very influential! I wasn’t sure if RVP was going to even be a sub today! Chamakh worked very hard, He’s running after a goal at the moment he’s coming close to the goal he needs! Ramsey can score double figures this season! We had a tall back 4 today!” AGM this week! Theo talks! Hewitt Linked!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was pleased with Marouane Chamakh's performance in victory over Stoke City.

Chamakh was recalled for the win.

Wenger said: "I think he worked very hard. He is running after a goal at the moment. I felt there were two or three occasions in the first half where he was nearly there on crosses and just didn't get in front of Shawcross. I am pleased with his effort. I think he knows in his mind that at the moment Van Persie is untouchable.

"Because we play with two wingers it is very difficult to play with two strikers because you are too open in the middle of the park. So unless I change the system it will be him or Van Persie. It is difficult. But he will get confidence by playing games and scoring goals like all strikers."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said he didn’t even know if today’s match-winner, Robin van Persie, would make it for the clash with Stoke City.

The Gunners skipper was the hero last week with two stunning goals to help beat Sunderland 2-1 and today was at it again at the Emirates with a brace in the 3-1 victory over Stoke City.

Prior to the match, van Persie was in doubt with Wenger admitting he was not sure if he would play but was delighted the Dutchman was able to come on and contribute, along with Gervinho’s opener, to send the Gunners to seventh.

"The second half was basically all us, especially after the first 15 minutes, and then the problem was to score goals and Van Persie can do that better than many people, and he did it when he came on,” Wenger said.

"He had muscular tightness, I was not even sure he would be on the team sheet but we checked him this morning and he was medically all right to be on the bench.

"Before you leave him out you think always 15 times 'do I really do it' but I felt at some stage, and looking at the number of games he has played and with his history, you have to be cautious.

"He played two full games with Holland and the whole game against Sunderland, he played up front alone in Marseille, so at some stage you have to give them a breather, but up front it's difficult.

"Of course Robin, with his two goals, deserves massive credit but I think Gervinho had a very lively and influential game as well."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels Aaron Ramsey can reach double figures with his scoring this season.

Wenger believes he can push on to reach double figures before the season’s end.

“Yes I think he can,” the manager said. “He has scored against Tottenham against Marseille.

"He has that ability to get into the box and when he has a chance he finishes it. He has always had that since he started.

“There is much more to come from Aaron Ramsey and I believe he can reach double figures.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists they do not rely on Robin van Persie.

Van Persie came off the bench to inspire victory over Stoke City.

"I don't have that feeling at all. When you want to be a team with quality you always have a player who stands out and who gets on the end of things," Wenger said.

"We had Thierry Henry before. Robin has exceptional quality and so you get these questions."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was pleased to see his selection work in victory over Stoke City.

Johan Djourou was played at fullback by Wenger.

He said: "Permanently I don't know [if he has made a case to play there] but he had a very good game today.

"What was good today was that we were tall at the back. We had Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Santos in the back four. When you face Stoke that is an interesting quality."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Manchester City's rout of Manchester United surprised him.

Manchester City's 6-1 mauling of rivals United rekindled memories of Arsenal's own horror show at Old Trafford earlier this season.

"That was a surprise. But France nearly beat New Zealand in the rugby today and that was a surprise as well," said Wenger.

"Like when we lost 8-2, the big scores have no special meaning, it only means something special happened in the game.

"It's not that you lost three points, what is more difficult to deal with is the emotional aspect of a result like that remains in your head."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is in agreement with his Stoke City counterpart - for once.

Wenger has agreed with Tony Pulis, saying that refs should allow more tackles during a game.

Wenger said: “Tackling is punished too much. Tackling is a technique, and if it is done well, with the desire not to hurt but to win the ball, it is a fantastic technique.

“I personally like players who are brave but with the right spirit. I think the bravest players I have met were physical, but didn’t hurt people.

“Usually the players who play to hurt are cowards.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is prepared to face shareholders at their AGM this week.

The meeting could well prove a stormy one for both the manager and the board as disgruntled Gunners’ diehards ask tough questions about the side’s desperate start to the season.

But Wenger said: “I do not meet with the shareholders expecting anything good or bad or fantastic. I do my best for the club and then I can accept the judgement of everybody with a clear conscience.

“What happened in the last few months is that Arsenal qualified for the Champions League for the 14th consecutive time.

“We’re respected all over the world and are one of the few clubs who live with a really healthy financial situation when the whole world is bankrupt.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain must fight for his first team place.

Wenger explained why 18-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain has not featured in recent squads.

He said: "It's just a case of working with him on some specific things and there's competition. We had Andrey Arshavin, (Theo) Walcott, (Yossi) Benayoun and Gervinho who can all play on the flanks. Chamberlain will be there, give him until Christmas."

• Theo Walcott insists his priority is to sign a new deal with Arsenal.

The England winger has been linked with Juventus and Chelsea this season.

Walcott said: “Hopefully, we will sit down with the club and hear what they have to say.”

That news will be a ­further boost for ­manager ­Arsene Wenger after the difficult early ­season.

• Macclesfield Town defender Elliott Hewitt is attracting Premier League interest.

Arsenal are looking at Hewitt, 17.

He is a Wales Under 21 international and has also been attracting attention from Everton and Chelsea.

Macclesfield rate him at around £1.5million.