It is a scary notion for Arsenal supporters to imagine life without Robin Van Persie. If ever there was a player whose performance dictated the results for his club, the Flying Dutchman is the best example. With the departure of club captain Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the summer, Van Persie's presence in the squad has now become more of a necessity for Arsene Wenger; any long term absence would be catastrophic.
Awarded the captaincy at the start of the season to replace the departed Fabregas, Van Persie responded to the added responsibility by scoring goals at a tremendous rate. Having already amassed thirteen goals in as many games, which remarkably is half of Arsenal's total tally, providing additional proof of how much the team depends on their marksman to win games.
Despite a disastrous start Arsenal have been able to dramatically reverse their fortunes and rescue their season before things could get any worse, early lop-sided losses had a lot to do with a long injury list, coupled with the squad trying to get accustomed to life without Fabregas and Nasri, who were both an integral part of Wenger's system. It took time for the players to gel with one another following all the off-field disruptions that plagued the club, but most of the credit must go to Van Persie and his left foot. Leading by example, and single-handedly pulling the Gunners out of the fire on numerous occasions this season.
Currently, the Gunners are six games undefeated in the Premier League following the derby day loss to bitter rivals Tottenham. Van Persie has found the net ten times, scoring back-to-back braces against Sunderland and Stoke City that earned Arsenal maximum points. That was followed by an unbelievable hat-trick performance against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that restored some much needed confidence within the squad. The scoring continued with one against West Bromwich, and the following week a vital come from behind brace against Norwich City that stole all three points. The numbers speak volumes to Arsenal's position in the table at the moment due in large part to their prolific captain.
Those heroics have continued in the Champions League with Arsenal being the only English club at the moment to have clinched a place in the knockout rounds, a feat which would have been unthinkable, judging by their early season form. Van Persie has found the back of the net three times in five matches, ironically half of the Gunners goal production. The most recent coming in the form of a brace at the Emirates against Borussia Dortmund which earned Arsenal top spot, and more importantly a favorable draw in the next round.
If Van Persie could stay healthy for the long haul Arsenal can challenge for a top four finish, but that is a really big if, considering his history. Marginally used in his inaugural season in the Premiership, third choice behind Thierry Henry and Jose Antonio Reyes, although the Dutchman did manage to break through enough to score ten goals. But in a sign of things to come Van Persie ended the season injured and out of the line-up, putting the brakes on a great start to life in England.
Unfortunately the trend of injuries continued and any progress made would always get cut short, making it difficult for Van Persie to build on his impressive form. It seemed just when things were going well, a lengthy spell on the sidelines would soon follow. In 2006, just days after signing a contract extension the striker broke his toe, one year later a fractured metatarsal kept Van Persie out for much of the season, but surprisingly still finishing with the most goals that year for the club. The following season Van Persie was riddled with injuries again, suffering a horrible knee injury that initially kept him on the shelf for two months. The 2007/08 campaign was a write off for the Dutchman.
When healthy Van Persie is unstoppable, despite being hit with injury after injury, there is not a better striker in the Premiership that you would want leading the attack. The start-stop trend has plagued the striker throughout his career with Arsenal, having only played one season injury free. That was in 2008/09, which turned out to be his most productive, scoring eleven goals and adding a league leading ten assists. Van Persie never gets enough credit for his set-up play, a natural striker of the ball in every sense, whether going for goal or picking out a teammate you can always count on him to make the right decision.
In 2009, an ankle injury picked up on international duty limited Van Persie to nineteen overall appearances for the Gunners, yet another injury set-back to add to the growing list. But still the striker managed to contribute an impressive ten goals and eight assists. Imagine what his numbers would be had injuries not cut short previous seasons, allowing a player of such immense quality and skill to reach the heights he is definitely capable of reaching.
Van Persie recently became the fifth player in Premier League history to net thirty goals in a calendar year, an unbelievable achievement. Goals look effortless, blessed with a thunderbolt of a left-foot, fantastic pace and tremendous ball control, it is hard to find any holes in the Dutchman's game. The model professional, the summer ahead will undoubtedly test Van Persie's loyalty to Arsenal, with a number of Europe’s elite clubs chasing his signature. The Gunners have a strict contract policy that in theory makes complete business sense, but ends up leading to the departure of their best players, either chasing the money or the chance to win trophies. Naturally the importance of Van Persie should be enough to trump this strict policy.
Having only won two pieces of silverware in over seven years at Arsenal (2004 FA Community Shield & 2005 FA Cup), Van Persie's ambition might now be at a level that the Gunners will find difficult to match. Upon signing his latest deal back in the summer of 2009, the striker displayed his love for the club by stating, "My heart is with Arsenal and I just can't picture myself in a different shirt". Van Persie has so far refused to commit his future to Arsenal, having under two years left to run on his current deal. Wenger will hope to get him signed long term this summer and dodge another agonizing transfer saga, but with more players being sold than bought by the club, Van Persie might follow the mass exodus of players out the door at the Emirates.
If Arsenal fail in their efforts to resign their captain it will almost certainly lead to Wenger's departure, tired of watching the talent he discovered and molded through the years being poached without response from the club's hierarchy. The loss of Van Persie would be a catastrophe of epic proportions, one that would have a disastrous impact on the club moving forward. It is not enough just to re-sign the Dutchman, Arsenal need to prove their ambition by surrounding Van Persie with players that will help challenge for titles and ease the burden that has been placed on his shoulders.
At the moment Arsenal sit seventh in the table, three points off fourth spot and the coveted European place it represents. The Champions League place provides a necessary bargaining chip for the RVP sweepstakes. Robin Van Persie has always been a loyal son to Arsenal, sticking by Wenger through thick and thin, the last of a generation of players full of potential, that unfortunately were never able to win any silverware.
The Flying Dutchman will turn twenty-nine in the summer; the window of opportunity to win trophies is slowly closing. Will loyalty trump ambition? Or will RVP be the latest star to pack his bags? Time will tell, but one thing is certain, Arsenal without Van Persie would be a major problem.
RVP will remain loyal once we sign Gotze
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