Robbie Keane levelled for Liverpool after Van Persie had broken the deadlock with a 24th-minute strike.

Arsenal had Emmanuel Adebayor sent off in the 62nd minute for a second bookable offence and Van Persie revealed it was the character of the team that got them through the game.

"We said to ourselves we have to keep in the game and we had to fight until the end," Van Persie told Sky Sports 1.

"If you look at Alex (Song) and Denilson and how many metres they have covered today in the middle it was a big compliment.

"We all wanted to win the game but we are not that unhappy.

"It's not what we wanted but it's not really that bad after all that has happened.

"It was nice to score because I haven't scored for a bit. It was a nice goal to score. I took it down well and scored with my right foot."

Speaking about referee Howard Webb's decision to give Adebayor his second yellow for a foul on Alvaro Arbeloa, Van Persie added: "I didn't see it myself but I spoke to Ade (Adebayor) after and he told me he didn't touch him."

"I have to believe him so, if I go on that, then it is a bit harsh."

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger berated Webb after the game and said Keane should have also been dismissed for an early tackle on Gael Clichy.

"I think it was the wrong decision. I would love to have sendings off like that at home when we get kicked off the park," said Wenger.

"If Adebayor has to go off for that then Keane should have gone off for his tackle on Clichy."

Wenger saluted his team's strength and was convinced they would have taken all three points had they not been reduced to 10 men.

"I'm proud of the spirit we showed and the strength with which we finished the game," he said.

"In the first half we played too deep and didn't have good enough control of the game, but as soon as we came out in the second half we were in better control and I was sure that we would have won in the last 30 minutes."

Liverpool assistant Sammy Lee hailed Keane after the striker's stunning strike had put the away side back on level terms.

Keane has been struggling for form lately but Lee believes the goal shows the frontman is not short of confidence, as has been suggested.

"Robbie has been fantastic. He's a good lad and he keeps on plugging away," said Lee on Sky Sports 1.

"He'll trouble players and teams for any given game so there's no problems with Robbie's confidence and he'll keep on working to try to improve."

Lee was in charge at the Emirates after Rafael Benitez was forced to miss the match after surgery to remove kidney stones this week.

The former Bolton manager said the Spaniard was in touch with the coaching staff throughout the match and wished him a speedy recovery.

"With technology being what it is today he was in total command of the game and that's all credit to him. It speaks volumes about his professionalism," said Lee.

"He was pleased with the boys and the result. Hopefully he'll be back as soon as possible because he has a great presence at the club and that is missed when he's not here."