Van builds on statue status

WHEN Arsenal decide whether they should add any more statues to the three they unveiled outside the Emirates Stadium on Friday, Robin van Persie’s name will be top of the list.

The Dutchman may not have scored as many goals as Thierry Henry, or captained the club to 13 major honours, as Tony Adams did, but his worth to Arsenal cannot be overstated.

Indeed, it was fitting that he chose the occasion of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations to demonstrate that, although Arsene Wenger may disagree, the club’s success or failure rests squarely on his shoulders.

Henry was up in the stands, having joined fellow legends such as Robert Pires, Frank McLintock, George Graham and Ian Wright on the pitch before the game to soak up the applause, as the club marked its birthday with a respectful nod to those who have played their part in its past glories.

Yet that appeared to be the only element of the day that was worth remembering as Everton managed to stifle a side who were going for their seventh win in eight Premier League games. Then came the moment of truth as Van Persie met Alex Song’s ball over the top with an imperious, instinctive volley that can only be scored by a player of the most gifted technique, where action matches speed of thought in glorious technicolour.

The ball fizzed past Tim Howard and in off the far post, and as the cameras panned to Henry celebrating enthusiastically, his heir as talisman of this side wheeled away in triumph.

That was Van Persie’s 33rd Premier League goal of 2011 — one short of Henry’s Arsenal record, and three shy of Alan Shearer’s total from 1995. Van Persie now averages a league goal every 138.6 minutes, whereas Henry scored every 121.9.

Yet as Arsenal prepare for the ultimate test of their resurgence as they travel to face Manchester City next Sunday, the statistics can’t tell the whole story of Van Persie — instead, his team-mates must do that for him.

“The way Robin is playing, he wants to be one of those legends as well,” said Theo Walcott. “That’s one of the best goals I’ve seen for a long time. He’s a player in so much form, the goal is amazing and it’s just world-class to see.!”

Despite Arsenal’s profligacy in front of goal, Everton never looked like spoiling the party. They created nothing of note, underlining why they boast a record of just 15 goals in 14 games and they appear destined for mid-table mediocrity unless a striker is signed in January — although captain Phil Neville insisted that is not that is a sure-fire answer.

“A lot of criticism is levelled at our forwards, but maybe it’s up to us to provide better service to them,” he admitted. “People say ‘you need a centre-forward’. Well we’re getting in great positions, we’re just not producing the final pass. That’s not down to the forwards.”