Van Persie absence only underlines his true worth

ARSENE WENGER’S desire to protect Van Persie is perfectly understandable.

But ironically, in attempting to overcome Pulis’ uncompromising Potters with our Robin reliant parked on the bench, le Prof only managed to prove quite how impotent we are without him.

In fact the Gunners’ attack appears so lamentably goal-shy with Chamakh standing in for our captain, that after RVP had come on for his crucial two-goal cameo, I’d have been tempted to take him straight off again; to be able to wrap Robin up in cotton wool, rather than to risk him for a second longer than absolutely necessary, in the sort of roughhouse environment that is par for the course in the presence of Shawcross and co. Just how crap can our Korean striker be, if our Moroccan misfit continues to keep him out of the squad?

After enduring more than our fill of all that “8-2 be an Arsenal fan” mirth, we also enjoyed the mouth-watering ‘what goes around, comes around’ irony of Man United’s simultaneous humiliation against City on Sunday.

Although, I said at the time that perhaps the biggest embarrassment of our worst defeat in living memory was that it transpired against such a mediocre Man U outfit (with the exception of an on fire Wayne Rooney). And so while I certainly don’t mean to dissuade Gooners from the sweet revenge of giving their Man U mates all the stick they deserve in the days ahead, it hardly reflects well upon us that we were so severely ravaged by the same United outfit that rolled over against City.

Meanwhile, hopefully our midweek smash and grab in Marseille and three points from one of the bi-seasonal banana skins of Stoke’s kick and rush spoiler football, are further small steps in the total rebuild required, following the utter decimation of both our team and our confidence during the most disastrous start to a campaign in the Wenger era.

Doubtless Arsene remains confident we can recapture the fluidity that has seen the Gunners find global favour. Perhaps it will come in time, but I’m not convinced that the current incumbents are capable of reproducing the same stylish patterns of play for which we were formerly renowned.

After we’d established a two-goal cushion and with the visitors having all but given up the ghost with only eight minutes left on the clock, there was a brief spell when the “olés” echoed around the Emirates, as the Gunners risked a clattering with our contemptuous control of possession. However, it felt more like a fond remembrance of times past because the majority present were only too aware that we are no longer capable of maintaining such composure.

Thus the Potters’ fans “we’ll play how we want” chant could also be perceived as ironic, when you consider that in France, only four days prior, the Gunners were grinding out a win, with a performance which, in effect, was no less negative than Pulis’ brand of anti-football.

Am I bothered? The artistry of the beautiful game that we’ve enjoyed this past decade has been an absolute privilege. But right now, I’d willingly sacrifice the casual style, for more committed substance.

There were some anxious glances amongst the Gooners on our plane, as we waited for take-off from Marseille airport on Thursday morning, with Le Mistral gusting away outside. Apparently it’s known as a wind of change and it needs to blow away some of le Boss’ preconceptions on success, if he’s going to stem the ever decreasing number of bums on seats.