Van Persie 'Transformed' Says Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that Robin van Persie has become a complete team player and is the key to Arsenal’s success in the coming season.

The striker, 24 today, arrived from Feyenoord in 2004 with a reputation for being a highly talented, but difficult to manage youngster.

In his time at Arsenal, his talents have been realised, after playing for three seasons under the shadow of Thierry Henry.

Despite an injury ravaged season last time around, van Persie showed immense talent and ended the year as Arsenal’s top scorer.

He goes into the coming campaign knowing that he is now Wenger’s first choice striker. The Dutchman’s time has come to shine, and his manager believes that van Persie has the talent to succeed.

“I think Robin has been transformed in a very good way since he arrived,” said Wenger on Arsenal’s official website. “He has become a great passer of the ball as well as a talented player.

“Like any talented player, he is always worried about individual skills but he has improved and, for me, become a complete team player.”

Sunday will mark the first competitive game for van Persie after sustaining a broken foot against Manchester United in January. His boss realizes that following the departure of the talismanic Henry, it is down to van Persie as the club’s senior striker to do his part in filling the void in goals.

“Robin’s responsibilities have got higher now Thierry has left” said the Frenchman.

“Before it was all on (Thierry’s) shoulders now it is more on Robin’s.

“I want him not to worry about that, just play good football, enjoy it and not be injured. Last year he could only play 17 games and missed 21, that was too many. Henry missed 22 so together they were out for 43.”

taken from goal.com