Arsenal News: Robin Van Persie Was Smart to Fire Up Alan Hutton

Arsenal superstar striker Robin van Persie has received some backlash after allegedly using some gamesmanship tactics to get Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton to be sent off. In reality, he should be applauded for helping his team to secure all three points.

Here's what Villa manager Alex McLeish said after the game, according to a report from James Nursey of Mirror Football:

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“Van Persie waved at him in the tunnel—they conned him. Alan was conned and he should be experienced enough to just laugh in their face and just walk away.

“Maybe the Arsenal player lured him into it but I didn’t think he would get conned like that.”

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McLeish went on to say he wasn't upset with Arsenal's biggest offensive threat, but if that was the case why would he make an allegation? Seems like sour grapes more than anything else.

With the Gunners attempting to make a huge turnaround after a slow start to the season, every point is crucial. Van Persie has been the main reason the team has been able to turn bounce back slow quickly with 16 goals in 17 games.

He's going to do whatever it takes to win.

If that means riling up an opponent, so be it. It's the opposing player's job to be smart enough to not let his emotions get the better of him, especially when the score is 2-1. Whatever was or wasn't said in the tunnel doesn't really matter.

Since the rapid-fire bookings came so late in the game, they basically took the remaining wind out of Aston Villa's sails. Arsenal was able to survive the final moments against a 10-man Villa side after Yossi Benayoun scored just minutes earlier.

Every football player in the world would do what van Persie reportedly did if they knew the outcome would be a victory. After all, winning is the most important thing.

Anybody who calls out van Persie is just trying to take the moral high ground instead of being honest about the surrounding circumstances. If anything, the Dutchman deserves a pat on the back for a job well done.