In recent seasons van Persie has played as the sole striker, which has worked as he has scored time and time again. However, this season I think we need a change, and the reason for that is the loss of Fabregas, who provided almost all of our creativity from midfield, which gave van Persie most of his chances to score from.
This season, with the loss of Fabregas and to a lesser extent Nasri, he does not receive enough service from midfield. When we are playing worse teams, like against Bolton, he is on fire and scores lots of goals, but that is because our midfield can manage to give him these balls against these teams lacklustre defences. Against a stronger midfield and defence (either better players or more organised) and we struggle to give him chances. The match against Tottenham clearly showed this, and although lots of fans were complaining about him afterwards, it wasn't his fault that the midfield couldn't string enough passes together to get the ball to him. His one amazing moment was when he set up Gervinho, who missed, after dribbling past Kaboul. This confirmed my view that he needs a strike partner.
He needs to play as a second striker, as he used to with Adebayor or Henry. He is still up front to score goals with his killer left foot, but he can also drop back, dictate the play as he is able to do; with someone to actually finish our chances.
Now that the window has closed, the most obvious options are Chamakh, Park and Walcott, who many people have wanted to play up front this season. I think it should change between Chamakh and Walcott, depending on who we're playing, with Park as back-up unless he can oust Chamakh.
Chamakh against the teams who sit deep and defend all game, so that we can if needed cross the ball with a chance of him getting his head on it; something which he is very good at.
Walcott against the better teams who have the ability to attack us and defend higher up the pitch, so that he can make runs in behind the defence to get 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. After the match vs Tottenham, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw this.
With our current injuries and the like, if none more happen and Koscielny is back, this could be our line up in the coming games:
Sunderland
------------------Szczesny------------------
--Jenkinson--Koscielny--Mertesacker--Gibbs--
--------------Song-----Arteta---------------
-Walcott----------v.Persie----------Gervinho-
-----------------Chamakh--------------------
Marseille
------------------Szczesny-------------------
--Jenkinson--Koscielny--Mertesacker--Santos--
--------------Song-----Arteta----------------
-Gervinho---------v.Persie-----------Arshavin-
------------------Walcott--------------------
Of course, with Wenger's stubborness this season and in recent seasons, I doubt this will happen and van Persie will remain isolated in most games, and we will end up finishing outside of the top 4.
This season, with the loss of Fabregas and to a lesser extent Nasri, he does not receive enough service from midfield. When we are playing worse teams, like against Bolton, he is on fire and scores lots of goals, but that is because our midfield can manage to give him these balls against these teams lacklustre defences. Against a stronger midfield and defence (either better players or more organised) and we struggle to give him chances. The match against Tottenham clearly showed this, and although lots of fans were complaining about him afterwards, it wasn't his fault that the midfield couldn't string enough passes together to get the ball to him. His one amazing moment was when he set up Gervinho, who missed, after dribbling past Kaboul. This confirmed my view that he needs a strike partner.
He needs to play as a second striker, as he used to with Adebayor or Henry. He is still up front to score goals with his killer left foot, but he can also drop back, dictate the play as he is able to do; with someone to actually finish our chances.
Now that the window has closed, the most obvious options are Chamakh, Park and Walcott, who many people have wanted to play up front this season. I think it should change between Chamakh and Walcott, depending on who we're playing, with Park as back-up unless he can oust Chamakh.
Chamakh against the teams who sit deep and defend all game, so that we can if needed cross the ball with a chance of him getting his head on it; something which he is very good at.
Walcott against the better teams who have the ability to attack us and defend higher up the pitch, so that he can make runs in behind the defence to get 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. After the match vs Tottenham, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw this.
With our current injuries and the like, if none more happen and Koscielny is back, this could be our line up in the coming games:
Sunderland
------------------Szczesny------------------
--Jenkinson--Koscielny--Mertesacker--Gibbs--
--------------Song-----Arteta---------------
-Walcott----------v.Persie----------Gervinho-
-----------------Chamakh--------------------
Marseille
------------------Szczesny-------------------
--Jenkinson--Koscielny--Mertesacker--Santos--
--------------Song-----Arteta----------------
-Gervinho---------v.Persie-----------Arshavin-
------------------Walcott--------------------
Of course, with Wenger's stubborness this season and in recent seasons, I doubt this will happen and van Persie will remain isolated in most games, and we will end up finishing outside of the top 4.
. Mourinho seems to have good enough man management skills to be able to keep them happy though, and as Higuain got a hatrick last night it doesn't seem that he is being left in the cold.