I think Van Persie's link-up play is his best and most valuable quality, and that his finishing and movement has become so important because those qualities are lacking in the rest of the squad. Better movement, better finishing, and more goals from our wide-men and Van Persie can lurk at the top of the box or make the late run from deep where he is most dangerous, while linking with the midfield. More surging runs from the CMs (direct, goal-threatening runs, not running aimlessly like Ramsey) will give him something to play off of in the centre (instead of relying completely on Song's chips and Walcott's low crosses). This will improve the team overall even though Van Persie may score marginally less.
It has been proven season after season first with Cesc and now with VP that putting your best player closer to goal is an act of desperation and not necessarily the right way to deploy the team. If Podolski, Giroud, Walcott, Gerv, and Ox can't score enough match-winning goals to make it work then they're not good enough anyway.
