This season the shortlist for the player of the season will have names like Aguero, Silva, Rooney and Bale on. However there has been no one more important, more valuable and more impressive than Arsenal's Robin Van Persie.
Arsenal have struggled at times throughout the season,
although they are currently on a great run of form and have overtaken Spurs to
lie in third place there has been serious questions asked of the team and the
manager. Many, including myself did not expect this kind of resurgence, however
defensively they have finally got their first team players back and their
solidity at the back has been a massive reason for their improved performance.
Yet, throughout the season, it is Van Persie who has almost single handedly put
Arsenal in the position they are in.
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| No injury = world class |
It is amazing that he has been at Arsenal since 2004, and
before 18 months ago he was forever plagued by injury. It seemed that the new
Bergkamp was never going to live up to the hype, it seemed he was always going
to be a player with the potential yet never reaching it with due to injury.
Now, after remaining free of injury for over 12 months, Arsenal are reaping the
rewards.
A matured man
This blog has accused Wenger of many failings, however his work with Van Persie has been more than impressive. Wenger has morphed this volatile young promise into a well rounded person and footballer. His work with Van Persie has been steady, yet from it has come a man who when fit appears able to rival the best in world football.
From an early age Van Persie's parents encouraged him to think for himself from an early age. His mother was a painter and his father a sculptor, both who hoped Robin would follow in their creative footsteps.
This blog has accused Wenger of many failings, however his work with Van Persie has been more than impressive. Wenger has morphed this volatile young promise into a well rounded person and footballer. His work with Van Persie has been steady, yet from it has come a man who when fit appears able to rival the best in world football.
From an early age Van Persie's parents encouraged him to think for himself from an early age. His mother was a painter and his father a sculptor, both who hoped Robin would follow in their creative footsteps.
This free thinking, creative player would be regarded of
being arrogant and rebellious in his career, a reason why Feyenoord were more
than happy to let go a player who offered so much potential, yet also so much
turmoil. This meant Arsenal would get Van Persie for just £2.75 million.
Wenger took a gamble on a player that many believed did not
have the mental strength and discipline to make it in top level football.
Wenger's development plan
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| The teacher and his pupil |
It is a remarkable test of Wenger’s belief and perseverance
that a player deemed too selfish and too indisciplined at Feyernood could
become captain of Arsenal. It is important to realise that with the right
guidance and teaching that these players at 18-21 are still young boys, who
have been thrown into a world of riches, pressure and expectations which far
exceeds their young shoulders. It is imperative that they receive the correct
guidance in order for them to come out of these years with maturity and
discipline. Van Persie is the perfect example and Wenger’s decision is being
vindicated by a run of performances stretching over 12 months.
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| A matured man |
Wenger believes that Van Persie’s biggest accomplishment has
been his maturity, “Robin always had the vision and the talent, what
really stands out is how he’s developed as a team player.”
A tactical change
Van Persie was always a shadow striker, a Dutch No 10, yet today
he has been converted in to a modern no 9. Or even a 9.5 if you will, a player who drifts
between a 10 and 9 with seamless fashion and allows himself to find space and
time to create and score.
The modern game requires the use of a striker less
formation, where a static player number 9 has become redundant for an ever faster
game, one in which space and time were restricted more. Van Persie now players
as a 9.5, filtering between the lines. Guardiola has made Messi into this type of forward and Wenger clearly admires the style that Barca have.
With Adebayor's departure Wenger opted to go for the 4-3-3 in order to suit
the Dutchman’s talent, although there are flaws with the system and certainly
there is too much over-reliance on Van Persie, it has clearly aided his game and development.
It is testament to Van Persie’s work ethic and desire to
improve that he has improved his “weaker” foot and has scored more goals in
2011 with his right than he had done in all his previous Arsenal seasons
combined. With a consistent run without injury Van Persie has been able to play
at a higher level for longer, enabling him to show the world that his talent
would not be wasted.
He has certainly improved his strength, being able to play
as a lone forward, holding the ball up and feeding others. His ability to
retain the ball and improved heading ability has improved his overall game and
has enabled Arsenal to alter their style to be more direct when needed, having
a player who possesses the necessary skills of a target man.
A mix of British and Dutch
Has the British game improved him? I would say so. The Dutch style seeks to develop creative, expressive players, those searching for the perfect goal, the perfect game. Van Persie’s path has taken him from seeking this perfection to understanding that first and foremost the game is there to be won. It is through this change in belief that Van Persie has taken his goal tally to remarkable levels.
Has the British game improved him? I would say so. The Dutch style seeks to develop creative, expressive players, those searching for the perfect goal, the perfect game. Van Persie’s path has taken him from seeking this perfection to understanding that first and foremost the game is there to be won. It is through this change in belief that Van Persie has taken his goal tally to remarkable levels.
This search for perfection is shown in his demeanour, his fashion and his football style. He eptiomises the culture of being Dutch, yet now he has aspects of the British game in his style, which have added more determination, strength and directness to his game, “I used to weigh up the options, think whether there was a chip or a backheel for beautiful finish. Now the ball has to go in. I don’t give a damn how.”
Most Valuable Player
In the US, they call their player of the season their Most
Valuable Player. This is what Van Persie is, he is the MVP of the Premier
League, because in my opinion, there is no other player who has done so much
for his team this year.
Man City have a supporting cast which makes most sides in
the world envious, in the past two years perhaps Tevez has been their MVP yet
this season they have shown that they have many players who cans step up and be
relied on. United have more than just Rooney to get the goals and however good
he is, he is not carrying the side. Obviously this is the hallmark of a winning
side, being a team, having players around the top players who can provide and
help out.
Arsenal simply have to keep Van Persie at the Emirates,
without him they could be a mid table side, his goals have been invaluable, his contribution is not matched by any other in any other team. Nearly everything goes through him and when he performs then Arsenal are more likely to win. Yet, one man cannot do it all, Messi doesn't do it all, neither does Ronaldo, Rooney or Aguero. A successful side requires a multitude of quality.
Fans complain that Arsenal lack the ambition to challenge
for the title and their reluctance to spend big is a major part of that, what
is also important, maybe more so, is the wages offered. The wage structure
at Arsenal, however admirable it may be, gives too much to those who don’t
deserve it and not enough to those who do. If the issue is the wage then
Arsenal need to alter their wage structure for this player. Chelsea,
United and more so City have raised the ceiling in terms of wages, is this unsustainable?
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| Please don't go. I need you! |
Does he owe Arsenal the rest of his career? I
believe that he owes loyalty to a club which supported him through his injuries
and educated him in being a footballer and importantly a mature man. What
he wants, like any ambitious player is to be a winner, to look back at his
career and feel he achieved something. What Arsenal need to do is prove that
they match his ambitions. They need to go out and purchase three or four world
class talents to surround Van Persie and show him and the fans that they mean
serious business.
Van Persie could probably have his pick of any top side in
Europe at this time; City and United would be great locations for him and I am
sure Bayern and the top Italian sides would be interested; Milan would be a
good fit and Inter need rebuilding, although without Champions League would he
be interested? PSG may also be able to offer him riches and success though I do
not believe he is required at Madrid or Barca, their squads are too strong in
that position to need a player like Van Persie.
What if an offer of £25 million came in for him? Would
Arsenal find it too hard to refuse; they have allowed a lot of good talent to
leave before and it appears that if the price is right then they are happy to
do business. On this occasion, they must refuse, the message it would send out
would be toxic to the Arsenal brand and to their fans. Another world class talent lostindicates only a slippery slope down.
I believe he will stay, he appears very well settled at the
club, he talks of his family being happy in London and stresses this is important
to him. What Arsenal need to do is prove to him that they want him, and they
are willing to give him the wages he has warranted this past year, and to show
him that they will bring in the players around him in order to improve the
side, to make them more competitive and give Van Persie a chance to win
silverware as captain of Arsenal.
I have complained about Wenger and his methods, about the
issues that have plagued Arsenal since their move to the Emirates and how they
now need to show their intent, to their players, fans and opposition. If this summer will be a turning point for Arsenal then their
first show of intent must be to tie up Van Persie, to prove that Arsenal are
not a selling club but a team building for the future, and that the man who
will lead the side and the new generation at Arsenal will be the leagues MVP, Robin Van Persie.
The Whitehouse Address is on Twitter @The_W_Address
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