Van Persie - Things are "not really working"

Robin Van Persie accepts things are ''not really working'' for Arsenal at the moment but has vowed the Gunners will soon get their campaign back on track.

Arsene Wenger's men survived the first-half dismissal of winger Emmanuel Eboue and injury to frontman Emmanuel Adebayor as they battled to earn a point in the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, which finished goalless at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

It was the second successive match in which the misfiring Gunners had failed to find the net. Indeed, Arsenal have now scored just one goal in their last 360 minutes of action in all competitions.

A Premier League title challenge has failed to materialise, with Wenger's men now six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Van Persie - the club's leading scorer - accepts Arsenal's season has not gone according to plan lately, but he feels there are still reasons to be positive heading into the final 13 league matches.

''In the last three games we have had three draws and that is just not good enough,'' declared the Arsenal striker, whose last-gasp goal snatched a draw at Everton.

''It is six points missing - if we had those six points, but this is if, if, if. It is not really working. What can I say?''

Van Persie stressed: ''We are still creating the chances. Even with 10 men against Spurs we had a few chances. I am not really worried because we are still creating.

''Sometimes it is me to blame or a player to blame. Sometimes we are unlucky. Everybody can judge that for themselves.''

Wenger continues to believe his young squad have both the temperament and skill to become a major force once again.

With an unbeaten run now stretching to 11 Premier League games, albeit including six draws, Van Persie insists the shoots of recovery are already in place.

''We are working hard, but we know we are not there yet,'' said the Holland international, who has hit 13 goals so far this term.

''We are not scoring enough goals, we are not playing well enough - but everyone stays positive and we are trying to help each other.

''The basics are there, its just up to us to finish it off now.''

Striker Eduardo da Silva - on the bench at Tottenham following almost 12 months out because of a broken leg - is set to soon be back in contention for a start, while new signing Andrei Arshavin - also among the Arsenal substitutes at White Hart Lane - has yet to make his presence felt.

England winger Theo Walcott should be available again by the end of the month following shoulder surgery, with captain Cesc Fabregas hopeful he can return sooner than originally expected from a knee ligament injury.

With such talent waiting in the wings, Van Persie feels there is ''more to come'' from this Arsenal squad.

''Eduardo has been working really hard and everyone is just really happy that he is back. Hopefully he can play, the sooner the better,'' he said.

''Arshavin has looked good in training - they both have - so there is more to come. I really believe in their qualities.''

Full-back Gael Clichy suffered a nasty cut following a clash of heads with Tottenham forward Darren Bent late on in Sunday's game.

While the defender was withdrawn from the France squad for the midweek friendly against Argentina as a precaution, he is expected to recover in time for Arsenal's next match, which is not until next Monday when Cardiff come to the Emirates Stadium for an FA Cup fourth-round replay.

However, Togo striker Adebayor is set to be sidelined for around three weeks with a hamstring problem and so faces a race against time to be fit for the Champions League last-16 clash against Roma.