Arsene Wenger has hailed Robin van Persie’s transformation into a world-class predator and claimed that the Dutchman has had to teach himself the art of goal scoring in a similar fashion to Thierry Henry.
The Arsenal captain has now scored 18 goals in all competitions this season and is closing in on Alan Shearer’s record 36 goal tally for a calendar year; a remarkable achievement from a player who up until last season seemed to score in streaks rather than consistently.
While Henry began his career as a winger, Van Persie looked destined to follow in the footsteps of Dennis Bergkamp by playing as a support striker in a 4-4-2 formation. Pleased with the way both his signings have made use of their creative qualities to hone their ability in and around the penalty box, Wenger told assembled media after Saturday’s 4-0 win over Wigan:
“They have similarities, Thierry and Robin. At the start they are not goalscorers, they are football players who you expect to create something special. You do not think they have to score so many goals, they added that to their game.
“Someone like Alan Shearer was a goalscorer first but they are more link players Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry. They are creative players and not just on the end of things.
“Even at the start of the season, people ask ‘why is Robin playing centre forward, he is not a centre forward’. But both have the intelligence to be in the right place at the right moment.
Pinpointing Van Persie’s ravenous appetite to consume and play football, and paying lip service to the frustration he has felt after years plagued with injury, Wenger continued:
“When you see the player that arrived and the player he is today then you have to give him a lot of credit. His transformation has been exceptional.
“We have all played football because we wanted to enjoy it. He is a football lover. He watches tapes and knows all about the game. Then he wants to be on the pitch. Maybe he has been so frustrated by being out so many times that he rates what a chance it is to play for Arsenal
“He has had an outstanding season so let’s hope we can keep him fit. He has played I think 48 games in the calendar year. That is the most he has played.
“He is talented and now he is the leader of the Club. At a club like Arsenal that is not easy and he does it remarkably well.”
Van Persie is expected to play no part in tomorrow night’s Champions League dead rubber in Greece with Arsene Wenger opting to rest his star man ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Everton.
One of the many reasons I love Wenger is because he always talks about arsenal football club in such high regard. Often mentioning how he is honoured to be boss and how players should be honoured to wear the shirt or be captain.
That’s how it should be.
Alan who?
I think it’s the guy who on a video trailer for the BBC’s coveraged of the 2010 world cup suggested that his own ‘expert analysis’ would be a reason to tune in. The particular trailer was then canned following an high number of critical comments regarding the level of insight & expertise available on the BBC. I lost any possibility of ever having respect for him when after we got cheated 1.0 against Newcastle in Shearer’s last season, with Gilberto getting sent off for two fair tackles, Shearer getting away with 4 red card ‘tackles’ Parker being given 10 minutes… Read more »
I like Wenger’s little dig at Shearer when he said,
“They [Thierry & RVP ] are creative players and not just on the end of things.”
Dig is in the word “just”. Classy
I remember a little while ago Wenger compared RvP to Messi and Ronaldo, saying he would be (one of) the best if he stayed fit. As it turns out, Wenger was right! Let’s hope he stays fit forever.
I’m so happy being an Arsenal fan these days… I don’t want this feeling to end… (that’s why I don’t listen to transfer speculation about our captain).
I agree, Wenger’s way of talking about the club reminds me of the era of rocky and smudger and mickey toemouse. Good times. Great club. “Remember who you are, what you are, and who you represent”
There’s only one arsene wenger. one of the three statues being revealed outside the emirates on Friday better be the nutty professor himself. He deserves a statue outside the temple he created.
Of course he’d already deserves a statue, and i think that the emirates should be named after the one and only Arsene Wenger, as he really is the architect of that stadium. But i think all that should happen in the distant future, when he’s not Arsenal manager anymore (may that day not come for another few years).
Wenger also is DENCH!
He’s da maaaaaaaaaaaaaan! Up gunners! ……..U can’t stop him
It’s pretty splendid that we are able to rest our players for this round of Champions League and watch the other 3 struggle don’t you think? Who’d have predicted that in August.
I’m just so impressed with Van Persie’s leadership this season. He has taken the armband fully on and I believe he’s our most inspirational captain since Tony Adams.
The way he bigs up all of his teammates and looks to share the accolades on and off the pitch is for a me a major factor in our turnaround.
Van Persie is right now suppose to be the new Mr Arsenal. Sure he’ll have a statue in our stadium one day. And I just heard that there is no Nasri, Adebayo and co? Mat be it is because they are already statues. Ade refused to chase balls against Man U and Nasri shirked training. And the last time I checked, Statues neither chase balls nor train. And by the way, two more men just entered Europa league (Man sometin n Man Sometin). Could this be an Omen for a possible Man’s inhumanity to Man, Season 4, in just one… Read more »