Should Arsenal’s one time nemesis fill RVP role?
Van Nistelrooy could be the ideal stand in for Van Persie
Arsenal were in good shape up until Nov 14th, they were free scoring and sat 3rd in the league with a game in hand. Fabregas was on fire scoring as well as assisting and Robin Van Persie looked like he would finally get an extended run without injury, then just 15 minutes into a 0-0 draw with World Cup holders Italy, Van Persie was challenged by Giorgio Chiellini and went down clutching his ankle.
Stretchered off, the Dutch FA announced that he had sustained ligament injuries to his right ankle and after talks of treatment involving the placenta’s of horses cutting the time he would spend on the sidelines, this Saturday it was announced he would miss 4-5 months, effectively ruling him out for the rest of the season.
It was a cruel blow to the Gunners as Van Persie had scored 8 goals in his 14 appearances this season and with just the out of sorts Eduardo and the inexperienced Carlos Vela as their only out and out strikers, how much Arsenal missed Van Persie began to tell.
They fell to Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light and then this Sunday against Chelsea capitulated 3-0 at the Emirates. Despite having a goal disallowed, Arsenal did not seem to be the same threat that they normally are nor did they look like the team that had scored 36 in the league previously.
Manchester United brought in Henrik Larsson on loan in January 2007 to bolster their team in the second half of the season and it worked a treat as the experienced Larsson grabbed 3 goals in 13 appearances including a debut goal against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Such a move now would not hurt Arsenal and with the likes of Ruud Van Nistelrooy open to a move back to England it appears the Dutch man could be the ideal stand in for Van Persie.
Former Manchester United player Van Nistelrooy has played in the Premier League before having scored 95 league goals in his 5 seasons at Old Trafford and the likes of Vela could learn a lot from him. He can operate as a loan striker as well as part of a pair and would flourish with the number of chances that Arsenal create.
A sticking point would be if Wenger would take a punt on the Dutch man who is no stranger to injuries himself. Although his predatory instinct are clearly still intact, at 33, Van Nistelrooy is no spring chicken and would also demand quite a high wage if he was open to a move to the Emirates.
Van Nistelrooy has fallen down the pecking order at Real Madrid after the arrival of Kaka, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo and also finds himself behind Raul and Gonzalo Higuain. Thus with next year’s World Cup in mind Van Nistelrooy knows he needs to be playing if he is to go to South Africa.
A move to Arsenal would benefit both parties, it just remains to be seen if a deal can be struck between both sides in order to resurrect Arsenal’s title hopes and Van Nistelrooy’s World Cup dreams.
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I agree this would be a good deal for both, but unfortunately im not sure I can see it happening, Arsenal will not want to pay what he wants and Arsenal fans are not likely to be his biggest fan. His finishing is needed at Arsenal and you’re right by saying he would prosper with the amount of chances they create