Robin van Persie can be replaced, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal will find a way to replace Robin van Persie despite being held to a second straight goalless draw, by Stoke, at the start of the Premier League season.

Star striker Van Persie scored 37 goals in all competitions last term but left to join top-flight rivals Manchester United in a reported £24 million (HK$294 million) move.

Wenger saw his side struggle in attack against a determined Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, but remains confident that Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Gervinho, supported by attacking midfielder Santi Cazorla, will eventually all come good.

"The understanding was missing," said Wenger. "One month ago Cazorla and Podolski did not know each other. There is work to be done on the training ground. There is potential but something is missing.

"I am very positive about my team. We haven't scored in two games, but we played against two units that defended very well."

The Frenchman added: "If you want to convince [me] we've lost an exceptional player you are wasting your time. I was the first to say that. We must find a way around that by sharing around the goals we scored with Van Persie. I've worked for 30 years on the football pitch every day and I know what it takes to improve a football player. Giroud can't think like he should replace Van Persie. I had the same questions when Thierry Henry left. We have to take perspective."