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Now that things ain’t working out so good over at Old Trafford, the grass is not the cash is looking a little greener back here at Ashburton Grove, and van Persie is green with envy. 15 points behind us, five points off the pace for a Europa League spot, and seven off the pace for a Champions League spot. It’s been a season full of firsts at Old Trafford, what with Everton, Stoke, and Newcastle winning there for the first time in decades (40 years for Newcastle) and Swansea’s first-ever victory there. Van Persie’s injuries have played a role, to be sure, and there are two reasons to worry about that.
One, of course, is that he’s actually injured. Long prone to injuries, this Glass Joe is now 30 (31 in August) and is looking increasingly brittle. He’s missed 17 matches across all competitions so far this season and looks set to make his fewest number of appearances since 2010. Two, just as worrying if not more so, is his apparent mentality. Moyes himself admits as much, saying “I have taken Robin’s advice where he feels he is at. I ask him if he is ready to play and how long does he feel he is able to play.” Now, of course, this is what managers and players do. They check in to assess fitness. However, in this case, the relationship smells of one in which the player has deigned not to play. He went missing for ten matches with a pulled hamstring, a stretch that saw Man U get dumped from the FA Cup and league cup while falling off the pace in the Prem. Whether the injury was that severe or whether van Persie simply didn’t feel like playing, the conclusion we should draw is the same: we can’t rely on him if the going gets tough.
Then again, we’ve known that for a while. When he left, the man showed his true colors, and that’s that.
In the past two seasons, we could sometimes be guilty of looking back and wondering, wistfully, “what if…” What if Cesc had stayed? What if van Persie had stayed? We’ve spent a good deal of time looking back and wishing things might have turned out differently, and a part of this “would we welcome van Persie back?” derives from the form he showed for one season. The nostalgia is understandable, but don’t forget the present, one in which we’re top of the table and are one of three clubs contending for the championship. We’re no longer scrabbling to climb up to or hold onto fourth place. We’re in a position that allows us to fight for the full meal and let the crumbs fall from the table to Man U or Tottenham or Newcastle.
Let’s enjoy that for what it’s worth, and stop worrying about what was and what might have been. See ya, Robbo. Thanks for the memories and so on.
i love this comment nice one Robbo.
its nice to have sombody like Roobo whom know much about Arsenal history,well to me i will like to welcome back Van Persie if necessary thanks.
its nice to have sombody like Roobo whom know much about Arsenal history,well to me i will like to welcome back Van Persie if necessary thank,MOVING 4.
are you kidding me? even when he's injured he's far better than giroud or bendtner will ever be. he's still got 2-3 seasons left in him. if anything injuries from when he was younger mean less mileage or wear and tear on him, he doesn't have to cover a lot of ground or drop deep to play defense anyway. Manure have to rebuild over the summer so we could probably get him back for 10-12m. why the hell not?
The guy is the best striker who never misses unlike giroud.
hell no. dude betrayed us, got his silverware, and wants to come back here? sorry, but rank opportunism. now that we're top of the table and he's in 7th, he wants to play for Arsenal? uh, no. that's not how it works. maybe if he handled the departure with a bit more class instead of complaining and criticizing after the fact, but it's pretty clear that he's only in it for himself, he doesn't care for Arsenal or show any loyatly whatsoever to the man and the club who made him who he is/was
Van pussy could come back to Arsenal… only as toilet cleaner
We need a top club striker, not an old folk who came from mid-table club
He must have the wrong London club in mind. I think that washed-up former Man U strikers go to Fulham.
Come back and do what?Undo the hardwork of the current players?Who suffered mockery and kept working hard to be where they are today,who knows what it means to give their all even when some don't think it is enough.They play for theirselves now,complement each other and are enjoying the togetherness.So thank you RVP but no thanks,a person doesn't reap where he didn't sow!