Manchester United are set to complete the £24million signing of Arsenal’s captain and striker Robin Van Persie.
The signing of the Dutch international would be a major coup for the Red Devils, who will be looking to out-do neighbours Manchester City this season.
Goals
Last season Robin Van Persie was the Premier League’s top goalscorer with 30 goals.
His goals accounted for nearly 40 per cent of the Gunners goals last term, and he played a crucial part in Arsene Wenger’s side finishing 3rd.
Injuries
As many Arsenal fans have pointed out in recent weeks and months the last campaign was the only one in his entire Gunners career were Van Persie avoided major injuries. He obviously benefited from a long injury-free run in the team.
Trophies
The 29 year-old has spent eight years at Arsenal and all he has to show for it is one FA Cup winners medal from 2005, ironically won against Manchester United. He has stated his frustration about the clubs apparent lack of ambition in recent years.
I can’t help thinking that the Dutchman is far more likely to win silverware at Old Trafford, than at the Emirates this season. I don’t think Arsenal were ever going to challenge for the Premier League title this season, with or without Van Persie.
At 29, Van Persie knows that his time at the top of the game is running out. He will be on a higher wage at United, but I think his move was motivated more by the chance to win trophies and medals.
Marquee
Signing Robin Van Persie will be the marquee signing that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been looking for this summer. He needed to sign a big-name player in order to send a signal of intent out to rivals Manchester City that United mean business this season.
Partnership
Van Persie is likely to forge a partnership with England striker Wayne Rooney at United. Since 2008 the pair are the top Premier League scorers and are regarded as two of the most dangerous strikers in the English top flight.
However, as I have stated before the pair are quite similar in how they play and where they want to play. They like to play off the main striker, but in the last year or so Van Persie has adapted his game to become more of a main striker himself, instead of playing behind the main man.
He is likely to be playing the traditional number nine role with Rooney playing in a deeper lying role, behind him. Whatever way United decide to play they are intelligent footballers and more importantly they are quality footballers. I’m sure the partnership will work out somehow.
Difference
Obviously last season there was a fine line between success and failure for Manchester United. In fact they lost out on the Premier League title on goal difference. I still don’t think there is much difference between Manchester City and Manchester United.
However, Manchester City haven’t really strengthened their squad, with the exception of promising youngster Jack Rodwell. United have added the creativity of Japanese star Shinji Kagawa and it now looks likely the goals of Van Persie.
Those two signings definitely improve the United squad and the signing of Van Persie will give everybody at Old Trafford a massive boost.
Title
I still believe that this seasons Premier League title race will be close, not as close as last seasons, but with the signing of Robin Van Persie Manchester United will have definitely improved their chances of claiming silverware this season.
Although, I’m not so sure if the Van Persie signing will be enough to wrestle the title away from their noisy neighbours, it will give the men from the Etihad far more to think about this season. Who knows this could be the season that Robin Van Persie finally gets his hands on some silverware, whether that be the Premier League trophy remains to be seen.
Will the signing of Robin Van Persie make the difference for United this season?
