By Lee Clarke
Arsenal were lucky 2-1 winners at The Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon against a Sunderland team who will feel aggrieved to leave North London without anything to show for a rejuvenated performance.
One thing that did strike home to me whilst watching the game from the comfort of my living room however was just how ordinary The Gunners would be minus their new captain marvel, Robin Van Persie.
It may come as harsh reality for Arsenal fans but without RVP as the teams talisman their side is quite simply distinctly average.
Van Persie is a crowd pleaser and if Arsenal have any chance what-so-ever of qualifying for European competition through the league they will need to keep their Flying Dutchman fit.
The 28 year old netted a brace in Sunday’s win the first coming after just 27 second and the other a superbly taken free kick which nestled past Simon Mignolet in the top corner of the net.
Many of those looking at football betting tips have always seen Van Persie as a tremendously talented footballer with a unique eye for goal but the key for Arsenal will be to keep him fit for the majority of the season.
The club can ill afford to see RVP miss any games with the only other strikers at the club being Gervinho who hasn’t yet hit the ground running in English football, and South Korea captain Ju Young Park who has barely figured yet this term.
With Arsenal’s other attacking options playing in fits and bursts and seemingly when it suits them it would appear that Van Persie is thriving in his new role as the team’s leader and main goal scoring threat.
The likes of AndriyArshavin, MikelArteta and Theo Walcott, whilst all clearly exceptional talents on their day have of late been unfortunately for Gunners fans inconsistent and frustrating at best and with fan favourite Jack Wilshere out for months rather than weeks RVP will be relied upon to keep the fans on side.
Losing fan favourite CescFabregas during the close season was a massive blow to the Gunners as it would be to any team in Europe to lose a player of such ilk. One thing is for sure though and that is if Arsene Wenger can keep Van Persie fit and firing a poor start could yet be turned into a good season.
Admittedly Arsenal’s problems don’t lie solely on Van Persie’s doorstep and those who like to bet money on the Gunners will agree with that.
For starters Arsenal have to get better at the back. In WojciechSzczesny the club have an ever improving goalkeeper who at late as been keeping his side in games for long periods. The back four
Monday, October 17, 2011
Wenger admits Van Persie contract fear
It is the latest bout of bad news Arsenal fans did not want to hear.
Just minutes after Robin van Persie struck two vital goals in a win over Sunderland, boss Arsene Wenger confessed that the Dutchman might not sign a new deal at the Emirates and become the latest big name player to leave.
“Unfortunately the ideal situation does not exist often,” said Wenger.
“The ideal situation is that he [Van Persie] extends his length of contract but, if he does not, we have to respect that. What is important is that he plays like he plays.”
Wenger was also quick to play down any question marks over Van Persie’s commitment adding:“It depends what you call commitment.For me commitment is not how long you are at the club, it is as long as you are there you give 100 per cent until the last day of your contract.”
That sounds like a cryptic hint from Wenger that he expects the former Feyenoord player to leave.
Van Persie has responded by insisting that he is committed to Arsenal, but going by Wenger’s definition of commitment he most certainly is. He has never given anything less than 100% for the club in his eight years and is arguably in the former of his career.
However, the decline in Arsenal’s fortunes – from favourites in the champions league betting to mid-table battlers - is there for all to see and you can understand why he may want to look elsewhere.
A footballers career is short and at 28 he knows he is reaching his peak. With Arsenal in lower mid-table and Man City top of the league, is it any wonder many are tipping him to take the double-your-money offer allegedly on the table from Sheikh Mansour?
Arsenal’s only hope is that success on the pitch persuades Van Persie to commit a few more seasons to the club, but if the campaign so far is anything to go by, I would Bet on the Premier League star plying his trade in a sky blue shirt sooner rather than later.
Just minutes after Robin van Persie struck two vital goals in a win over Sunderland, boss Arsene Wenger confessed that the Dutchman might not sign a new deal at the Emirates and become the latest big name player to leave.
“Unfortunately the ideal situation does not exist often,” said Wenger.
“The ideal situation is that he [Van Persie] extends his length of contract but, if he does not, we have to respect that. What is important is that he plays like he plays.”
Wenger was also quick to play down any question marks over Van Persie’s commitment adding:“It depends what you call commitment.For me commitment is not how long you are at the club, it is as long as you are there you give 100 per cent until the last day of your contract.”
That sounds like a cryptic hint from Wenger that he expects the former Feyenoord player to leave.
Van Persie has responded by insisting that he is committed to Arsenal, but going by Wenger’s definition of commitment he most certainly is. He has never given anything less than 100% for the club in his eight years and is arguably in the former of his career.
However, the decline in Arsenal’s fortunes – from favourites in the champions league betting to mid-table battlers - is there for all to see and you can understand why he may want to look elsewhere.
A footballers career is short and at 28 he knows he is reaching his peak. With Arsenal in lower mid-table and Man City top of the league, is it any wonder many are tipping him to take the double-your-money offer allegedly on the table from Sheikh Mansour?
Arsenal’s only hope is that success on the pitch persuades Van Persie to commit a few more seasons to the club, but if the campaign so far is anything to go by, I would Bet on the Premier League star plying his trade in a sky blue shirt sooner rather than later.
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