Nine great reasons why RVP can become a Manchester United legend



Robin van Persie was fantastic for Manchester United against his former club, Arsenal and in his interview afterwards he said both he and Wayne Rooney were ‘9 and a halfs’ — in other words, part-orthodox centre-forward, part attacking playmaker.

I think Robin was being polite for television. Make no mistake, on the evidence I saw at Old Trafford, Robin van Persie is a No 9.

This is a centre-forward who hunts on the back of the shoulders of defenders, who moves and takes chances with maximum efficiency.

He might have started as a left-winger and developed into someone who played off a striker. But right now he is a top-class centre-forward, a player who excels at playing up front on his own.

The real deal: Robin van Persie's finishing and movement has been top quality for Manchester United

For the first four to six weeks of the season, I was seeing a bedding-in period for Van Persie. We saw glimpses of his excellence but it was also clear that he was getting used to playing in a new team, and they were getting used to playing with him.

But this has been a significant week for the Dutchman. United had two big games against Chelsea and Arsenal and he has had a major influence on both, matches that might be seen as defining when the season ends.

From my point of view, we are seeing the start of something that is the real thing.

I never liked using the words majestic and silky but I will use the word clinical. Everything Van Persie does on the football field means something; he doesn’t move without it mattering.

Clinical: Van Persie fires the opening goal against his former club

If he makes a run, it has a purpose, even if it is to drag a defender out of position.

At Chelsea last week he was involved in the biggest moments of the game, one that United could not afford to lose because it would have seen them fall seven points behind the leaders.

Likewise, his performance was fantastic. His first chance fell so early but he never looked like missing it, and with his right foot.

From then onwards, I could see that the other United players are now seeing his runs, the changes of direction. He organises his feet before he shoots. He also worked with Wayne Rooney in defending. United forwards have a history of working hard; from Mark Hughes through to Carlos Tevez and now Rooney. Van Persie’s work ethic yesterday denoted a real understanding of what it is to be a United forward. The successful ones are all hard-working.

When United signed him for £24million, it was not a typical buy from the club because of his age, which is 29. And yet he has left the comfort zone of Arsenal, where everyone knew what he could do, and shown United supporters that he is the finished article.

He has taken two big games by the scruff of the neck. If he does the same in the Manchester derby in a month’s time, every United fan will know they have a special player on their hands.

They are already warming to him. Eric Cantona came to United as an experienced player, but Van Persie will score more goals than Eric, whose record wasn’t bad. Ten in 13 games is a brilliant start, but I’ve got a feeling it is only just the start.

Things can only get better: Van Persie will score more goals for United than Eric Cantona (left)



Arsenal are a big club and Van Persie didn’t make a move for the money. I think the reason he has joined United is to try to become a real legend of the game.

There is something about Manchester United, along with Barcelona and Real Madrid; if you do special things with those clubs, then it elevates you to a whole new level.

If Van Persie can continue like this, he has not left it too late to attain that legendary status.

This Arsenal are lacking star quality

I was disappointed with Arsenal — and I was disappointed for them.



I spent my whole career competing with them for trophies; when you said their name, you automatically thought championship contenders.



Not now, judging by the manner of their performance at Old Trafford. When I think of the great Arsenal teams under Arsene Wenger, I can’t think of one player who started at Old Trafford who would get into them.



Olivier Giroud isn’t as good as Nicolas Anelka, let alone Thierry Henry. Who would you rather have, Santiago Cazorla or Dennis Bergkamp? As for the current Arsenal players getting in ahead of their old back-five, or the midfield of Vieira, Petit, Overmars and Parlour, forget it, not even close.

Chastening experience: Santi Cazorla (third right) failed to shine at Old Trafford

Arsenal’s game was always built around pace and incisive passing but I didn’t see that.



Cazorla didn’t have a good game, Giroud hasn’t settled at all and Lukas Podolski would do something good but then seem to drift away again. The 2-1 United win flattered Arsenal, to be honest.



And unlike last year’s 8-2 defeat, Arsenal can’t point to half a team missing with injuries.

