His movement up front has been poor and is as much to blame for him not getting the ball as anything else.

Caligula wrote:

but he's nowhere near being our biggest problem

VanPersie's form is a massive problem. He is our star striker and he has the responsibility of carrying the team and making the difference.

It's true; the difference between being 'mediocre' and challenging for the top trophies generally comes down to the ability and form of your best striker. That's why they cost more than everyone else and earn the big money.

I think van Persie needs more service than say a Rooney, Aguero, Tevez or Henry. Those are much more mobile, more powerful guys who can drop deep and create their own chances from scratch. van Persie doesn't have their speed or their power. He is best operating in and around the box, throwing his shoulder or doing a fancy little dribble, giving a short burst to get away from his man to make a shot. I don't expect him to suddenly turn into one of those foraging strikers overnight, so he and the team need to spend time on the training ground figuring out how to feed him in and around the box.

van Persie is no longer a player that is great individually, thus he'll need service to look at his best. In short not all service is the same, in the most simplified manner, if you thread the ball the wrong side of the run, it's fucks up a chance. The players in midfield and his partners need to learn each others games. Currently they're just hitting and hoping in terms of service. That said, he's been starting with Theo and those two generally have great chemistry so it just goes to show that something is clearly up too and it's compounding the problem of his form.

Caligula wrote:

I think van Persie needs more service than say a Rooney, Aguero, Tevez or Henry. Those are much more mobile, more powerful guys who can drop deep and create their own chances from scratch. van Persie doesn't have their speed or their power. He is best operating in and around the box, throwing his shoulder or doing a fancy little dribble, giving a short burst to get away from his man to make a shot. I don't expect him to suddenly turn into one of those foraging strikers overnight, so he and the team need to spend time on the training ground figuring out how to feed him in and around the box.

For that reason he shouldn't be playing up front on his own. His game is based on dropping deep, getting his first touch right and evading defenders while still timing his runs into the box. It's a difficult role for someone who doesn't have the physical attributes of Rooney, Henry or even Tevez so if he isn't 100% switched on, he doesn't shine. To his credit he's become more lethal (I think he's still averaging a goal a game for club and country this year?) and capable of getting a toe in but in terms of match performance, this has been the norm since the tail end of last season.

I don't think playing him behind Walcott would work either. Theo leading the line works in a very one dimensional way, it may work against the likes of Swansea but I think he'll be found out pretty soon and van Persie isn't Bergkamp-good to justify making him play behind the striker. I'm not saying we should sign him again but it's a shame that pre-injury Eduardo never had a run along side van Persie. A striker like him who could occupy defenders while van Persie has a more free role could have worked very well.

Go back a year and you'll find people questioning his form and saying the exact same things. Go back two years and you'll find more examples.

He's a slow starter and doesn't really pick up form until we're a few months into the season. That's all there is to it I think.

mak wrote:

Go back a year and you'll find people questioning his form and saying the exact same things. Go back two years and you'll find more examples.

He's a slow starter and doesn't really pick up form until we're a few months into the season. That's all there is to it I think.

He usually gets injured a few months into the season.

It takes him a while to get to his best is what I mean.

Well I've watched all of our games this season, and while I agree his form has been pretty poor, I think he's had very little to work with. If he plays up top on his own all season with the kind of service he's had so far, regardless of how well he plays as an individual, he wont do much this season (and neither will we). He's just not the kind of player who can carry an average team on his back as the main centre forward. And as excellent as he is, he probably isn't quite good enough in that role to do it either.

He could, maybe, transform an average team in to a good one given a bit more freedom and a mobile partner to help him out. Maybe.

lagos wrote:
Caligula wrote:

well; but he's nowhere near being our biggest problem

I don't think anyone has said that, that would be the dimwit in the dugout! .......for the record, all I have said/saying is that I've never really had the sort of confidence in RVP that I'd expect to have.

😆 Tbf I thought Pat Rice did an excellent job against Udinese.

No one doubts RvP's skill, everyone doubts his fitness for any decent chunk of the season, especially with the huge burden he carries.

mak wrote:

It takes him a while to get injured is what I mean.

Fixed. :hat:

I agree though. I'm not particularly worried about Robin either. He's always been a bit streaky. Still no excuse though. You're supposed to cut those things out as you grow older and gain experience. He's almost 28 and we're depending on him to perform. You can't afford to go missing for extended periods at a top club.

Don't think it really matters lagos. His game is not built on pace or endurance. Robin is the kind of player you'd fancy to keep a steady level until his mid-thirties.

lagos wrote:

he's already 28 Klaus and that's what worries me.

What the same age Bergkamp and Pires started their Arsenal careers?

The same age Drogba joined Chelsea?

The same age Zidane won his country the world cup and joined Real Madrid?

Quite frankly this thread is a joke.

Problem is that it isn't a joke.

We are 6 games into the season. He has 2 goals. Let's talk when he starts resembling Torres with his 1 goal in 22 games. Yes, his movement can improve, and he can get himself kore involved, but it's far from being a crisis. Gibbs on the other hand...

Theo has 3 goals and you would drop him in a heartbeat. Just saying...

(not advocating dropping VanPersie by the way)

Captain wrote:

Theo has 3 goals and you would drop him in a heartbeat. Just saying...

(not advocating dropping VanPersie by the way)

I will not disagree with you there, and it's not a bias against Theo. I just don't think he's top 4 quality starter.
I was one of Theo's biggest supporters 4 or 5 years ago. I'm sure AM still has records of my high hopes for the lad.