RVP shares the love

When it clicks, football appears the easiest game in the world.

Simple passes, clear opportunities created, goals scored almost at will. So it was for Arsenal on Saturday as they ruthlessly dismantled a Blackburn side who fell apart at The Emirates.

When a team plays with such elan, it is easy to forget they had taken one point from their previous four matches, the fans stayed away in their droves and that the manager’s position is again under scrutiny.

Instead, attention was focussed on two young Englishman — one who has flattered to deceive in his career so far, while the other has shown all the potential that has led to him being described as a once-in-a-generation player.

And who better to assess the merits of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain than Robin van Persie. The Dutchman is, after all, the man who profits when either of his team-mates excel.

On Saturday two of Van Persie’s three goals were created by Walcott, who also set up Oxlade-Chamberlain’s second with a fine, mazy run.

Any questions about Arsenal’s mental strength or defensive frailties were not even asked, let alone answered, and instead Van Persie could reflect on a job very well done as Arsene Wenger’s side took full advantage of Gael Givet’s mindless sending-off for his two-footed tackle on the hosts’ skipper.

And for him that meant extolling the virtues of the two graduates of the Southampton academy, brought to Wenger’s finishing school at great expense. Oxlade-Chamberlain has been simply superb in the past few weeks, yet while he has been on a hot-streak Walcott’s form has been more Siberian in temperature.

For Van Persie, though, the talent of the two is not in doubt — and neither should their place in the England team.

“Alex is a fantastic player already, he’s only 18 and is so young,” said Van Persie with a big smile spreading across his face. “He’s good on the ball, he has everything.

“He’s quick, he has movement, technique. He can score a goal, give an assist — he has a great future.

“Don’t put too much pressure on him. He will have ups and will have periods when he’s not playing so well. Just be patient. But can he make the England team — why not?

“As for Theo, I love him, I honestly love him. I don’t understand the criticism.

“Like anyone, he misses chances. But I miss chances. [Cristiano] Ronaldo misses chances, [Lionel] Messi misses chances. It’s life, you know. Sometimes I feel that people are a bit harsh on him. I don’t know why. If you look at his assists rate then it is unbelievable.

“And he will score. Trust me, he will score. He will get 20 goals at least every season. You will see. He will, trust me. Have faith in him.”

It is difficult not to treat Van Persie’s comments on Walcott in particular with some scepticism. The 22-year-old has only scored 42 goals in his club career, after all. But he was superb against Blackburn, setting up the Dutchman’s first two goals with precise low crosses.

Morten Gamst Pedersen had briefly brought the visitors back into it with a fine free-kick, but after Givet was dismissed by Andre Marriner for his lunge on Van Persie there was no way back.

Four goals followed, the highlight of which was Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first as he burst onto Van Persie’s pass before rounding Paul Robinson — who has now conceded a Premier League record 60 goals against Arsenal — and firing home. Thierry Henry added further gloss with a late, deflected seventh, as Arsenal secured their highest ever league victory at the Emirates.

For Blackburn, though, this was a woeful day at the office. Steve Kean was right when he said this was the first time his team have been hammered, but the way they capitulated was worrying.

As has been his wont all season, though, the Scot talked about moving forwards. “The players know they have let themselves down and we will be looking to get back to work as soon as possible,” he said, fooling no-one.

Ultimately, his side will have to content themselves with the fact they don’t come up against Van Persie, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain in this form every week.