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Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie bagged a brace as a misfiring Arsenal side overcame Sunderland 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium leading to heaped praise from boss Arsene Wenger.
Signed as a highly talented yet petulant young forward from Feyenoord in 2004, a wide-eyed Robin Van Persie admitted that he dreamt of making Arsenal history like his Dutch idol Dennis Bergkamp.
Although, the Rotterdam-born star has yet to scoop up the accolades ‘DB10’ went on to lift during his time in North London, however, Van Persie has succeeded in matching Bergkamp in one thing – becoming an Arsenal legend.
And it was his classy, gutso performance against Sunderland for an average Arsenal team, on a chilly Sunday afternoon which had all the hallmarks of Bergkamp attached to it.
Consider the similarities. When Ajax legend Dennis Bergkamp signed for Bruce Rioch’s struggling Gunners side from Inter Milan back in 1996, the nonflying Dutchman began the long and arduous process of turning that particular Arsenal side into English and then European powerhouses hitherto never before seen.
Doubles, Premier League titles and FA Cups quickly followed, along with the acquisition of other top class players able to be attracted to Highbury by the pulling power a superstar like Bergkamp holds.
‘Bergy’ became an inimical part of that process of transformation. Fast forward 15 years and a certain Robin Van Persie now finds himself in almost the exact same position.
The Gunners captain is without doubt the clubs star player, the club talisman, Wenger’s trump card and Arsenal’s most recognizable face on the European continent.
This the 28-year-old epitomizes everytime he drags the Gunners out of a quagmire or through a tough test against the bestest of opposition. In the process Van Persie has turned himself into a Gunners legend, a fan favourite, as well as an indispensable member of the squad.
Aside from his outstanding spin-come-chip which cannoned back off the Sunderland post, the style in which ‘RVP’ inspirationally dragged his side to victory over a dogged Sunderland side with a superbly taken freekick late in the match, combined with with his well struck opener – his 7th goal this season – only reinforced such views.
Van Persie has become to Arsenal what Diego Maradona was to Argentina in 1986, what Rivaldo was to Barcelona in the early 2000s and what Carlos Tevez was to West Ham in 2006.
It goes without saying it is now imperative that Arsene Wenger and the board do absolutely everything in their power to keep the Dutchman at the Emirates if the club are to bring back the ‘glory glory Arsenal’ days.
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