VAN PERSIE'S THE DADDY AS ARSENAL CRUSH SPURS

Arsenal 3 Tottenham 0

VAN PERSIE: Deadly Dutchman in form

By Andy Dunn, 31/10/2009

DINA LAYLA VAN PERSIE is healthy and amazing - just like her daddy.

Not my words. The words of Robin in the matchday programme.

You could say he's a bit full of himself lately, Mr Van Persie. With some justification.

The birth of a second child - her proud dad's coming of age. And the only rude awakening was for Tottenham.

A second instalment of fatherhood and adulthood have arrived in harness for the Dutchman, the lurid indiscretions of his early career a distant memory.

Van Persie, 26, could yet prove to be one of Arsene Wenger's finest works, a study in how to nurture a challenging temperament.

How long did you give Van Persie in Arsenal red when he was sent off for a horrible lunge during a game at Southampton back in early 2005?

It wasn't so much the brainless foul on Graeme Le Saux that seemed to be an ominous portent, it was Wenger's uncharacteristic and emphatic rebuke.

And even as late as a year ago today, Van Persie was shoulder-charging Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen to suggest immaturity was still only a slumbering enemy.

But Wenger has always seen a mature, team-leading, intelligent striker lurking in the shadows of Van Persie's darker side.

It is why he ignored a litany of disciplinary problems back in 2004, acquiring the young Dutchman for a discounted £2.75million.

It is why he has been comfortable to release stellar-named strikers such as Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Critics clamoured for Wenger to buy a successor. Wenger knew he already had one on his books, was convinced that with responsibility - both on and off the pitch - Van Persie would emerge as a talismanic presence. A foundation of the latest and youngest team Wenger has crafted.

Complex

His faith, his patience, his cajoling, his psychological tutoring have paid rich dividends.

Eight goals already this season, five in five, six assists. His couple here - both unspectacular but both prime examples of the striker's art - was the headline stat but his performance was a more complex story.

A wonderful defensive header here, a timely intervention there, a beautiful awareness of his team-mates' intentions, a central physical presence.

Immaturity was confined to the thumb-sucking celebration. He can be forgiven that.

No wonder Wenger wore that smile - the one which he struggles manfully to stop breaking into a joyous laugh.

Arsenal have rarely been so prolific. And scoring goals which were once considered foreign to their repertoire.

These two Van Persie strikes - sandwiching a goal from Cesc Fabregas that was embarrassing and uplifting in equal measure - will have given Wenger more satisfaction than a more familiar thunderous volley.

It was Van Persie who reacted with a goal-thief's instinct when a short throw-in routine - and rotten Spurs defending - allowed Bacary Sagna to put in a cross. Van Persie stole a march on Ledley King and the surprise nature of the manoeuvre put Huerelho Gomes on the back foot.

The Spurs keeper was not to blame for that one but must accept some culpability for Van Persie's second, getting into a tangle with Ledley King when Sagna again crossed.

WENGER: Frustrated despite win

Van Persie diverted into an empty net to cap King's despairing afternoon. Earlier - in a bizarre minute just before half-time - King was still reflecting on being embarrassed by Van Persie when he became part of one of the most rotten restarts you are likely to see.

Wilson Palacios, the recipient of a lazy pass from Tom Huddlestone, gave away possession that spun into the path of the Arsenal captain.

He promptly hurdled Palacios and a desperately slow-to- react King during a 50-yard run that he decorated with an accomplished finish.

And that was the end of Tottenham's challenge, perhaps the symbolic end of their aspirations towards a top-four finish.

Yes, they were shorn of game-changers in Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric. But Arsenal had absentees of a similar ilk in Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky.

Forgettable

There was a gap in creativity and in understanding that will not be bridged in the immediate future.

And under the gaze of a distinctly unimpressed Fabio Capello, Tottenham's English contingent struggled in the wake of Arsenal's continental clique. Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas have a shortage of the sort of steeliness that is now a pre-requisite for a Premier League midfielder.

They were a soft touch and Peter Crouch was out of touch while, unlike his previous occasion here, David Bentley had an entirely forgettable time.

That is if he forgets how fortunate he was to escape censure for a deliberate handball and a tackle on Thomas Vermaelen that arrived later than a second-class letter.

Mark Clattenburg was the guy who let him off - fond, no doubt, of Bentley's gel-and-tan combo - and who showed an interesting interpretation of the rules.

He will rightly get credit for allowing play to continue despite Benoit Essou-Ekotto's foul on Eduardo, allowing Arsenal to collect their third goal, while Spurs' players stared gormlessly at the linesman's flag.

But his leniency early on was still slightly mystifying. No one likes to see a card-storm disrupt a competitive derby but surely there are some regulations that are inflexible.

Such as deliberate handball by Bentley - and such as clear dissent as demonstrated by Assou-Ekotto, who lashed the ball away in anger at one decision.

Only a few weeks ago, Kieron Richardson was booked for the same thing, which saw him sent off when Sunderland were trying to protect a lead at Old Trafford.

Baseless

It's the age-old consistency debate. But any Tottenham benefit from Clattenburg's understanding approach was blown in that mad minute when Van Persie and Fabregas exposed the gamble that is King.

There is little doubt that King, at times, is an international-class centre-half. But any ideas that he might be performing in South Africa next summer were surely exposed as baseless. This was the end of that debate. Surely. And the whole King scenario is one that Harry Redknapp will have to deal delicately with in coming months.

Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate - two more centre-halves with England hopes - were on the bench and their frustration at being behind a colleague who doesn't train (and it showed yesterday) must be growing.

One of them will get their chance now after insult was added to injury-time when Sebastien Bassong pulled up lame.

Arsenal failed to take advantage of the deteriorating physical and mental condition of their opponents with Eduardo - a first-half replacement for the injured Nicklas Bendtner - wasting a routine chance to rub local noses in Emirates dirt.

It didn't matter. Spurs had created few decent chances of note.

And the job had long been done before over-elaboration, that old faithful friend, slowed the home side's march.

The significance of this win, even though it is a depressingly familiar result for Spurs followers, cannot be underestimated.

Arsenal were not at their most fluid yet cruised past a team whose captain, Robbie Keane, claimed could match them for strength in depth.

That was exposed as nonsense.

And Wenger even indulged in the luxury of removing Van Persie a touch early, knowing the buoyant father would receive a standing ovation.

It duly arrived. Just like Dina Layla a fortnight ago. Healthy and amazing - just like her daddy.

Your comments

This article has 24 comments

I use to have respect for Harry! As for Robbie! Robbie who?

By Tobore.. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:58 PM.

I use to have respect for Harry! As for Robbie! Robbie who?

By Tobore.. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:42 PM.

Reece Barber- thank you for your honest post! its the most honest and respectable thing i have heard from a spurs fan since the game!
and your right, u cant rely on 2 or 3 players, Keane said u had more strength in depth than us but after u lost most spurs fans were contradicting him by blaming the fact that Defoe, Lennon and Modric were out!
so again thank you for your honesty! spurs are heading in the right direction but they do still have a fair way to go to catch us.

By mic84.. Posted November 1 2009 at 4:55 PM.

Spurs have a long way to go if they want to be mention in the same breath as Arsenal. first they must comparing themselves to Arsenal. Second, Harry should contact Benitez what he think of Kean. third Harry should know who he has to play mind games.

By ben.. Posted November 1 2009 at 4:37 PM.

i don't think harry was watching the same game
as 60,00 other people he thought spurs were doing
well for 43 minutes (WHERE) and as for the last 45 minutes i think we could have rested almunia`.
like you harry but see the truth your team just ain't
good enough.

By brian.. Posted November 1 2009 at 3:13 PM.

Don't tell me tottenham had lunch at the Marriott again?

By Harry Barracuda.. Posted November 1 2009 at 1:07 PM.

I was looking forward to this derby for more reasons than 1, i also wanted to also see how far THFC had come towards been a top four team because they have been scoring goals and playing well this season and we are a good measure for them, but after what witnessed yesterday they have got a long way to go to catch up to the mighty ARSE! All that talk about strength in depth, better bench, been able to match us.... what trash and hype! I would like to hear Keano,s and Redknapps opinions now! Tottenhams strong bench, things are not going well for them and who do they bring on? Gareth Bale! What a joke LOL! we loose Bentner we put Eddie on..... truth is tottenham would have loved our bench yesterday.... Nasri didn't even get a run out! Not forgetting our injury list Walcot, Rosicky, Denilson, Wilshere, plus 1 or 2 others.... i rest my case and i hope it shuts up these mouthy Spurs players and fans that think they are ready..... Up the ARSE!

By langoon1.. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:54 AM.

Thank u for the easy 3 points ---spurs for 7th place

By David Bloomfield.. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:48 AM.

Arsenal played 40 min with 10 men on the pitch, until Bendtner went off injured and replaced by a 11th man, and started scoring !

Diaby wasn't looking too good either, that is on the rare occasions when he came into play.

Why wasn't Ramsey brought on earlier, instaed of
Eboue, who brought Arsenal down to 10 men again, and Nasri left on the Bench.

Must be Arsene was feeling comfortable with 3-0 (not 2-0) !

By John Barry.. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:48 AM.

Spuds ambition is not to win the league.But to beat Arsenal one day!Forever in our shadows!Harry ,mind games don't work on Arsene.Get some education and you will soon learne that.Wenger is too smart forr you!

By juma.. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:34 AM.

Referee Cluttenberg once again failed to take proper action against dirty play. He failed to show at least a yellow card to Bentley for a very dangerous foul on Vermaelen which he saw,not as he stated against Adebayor on Van Persie. But then was quick to show a unjust yellow card to Vermaelen for a correct tackle.

By A.MESSINA.. Posted November 1 2009 at 11:03 AM.

Arsenal were just another class, , old 'Arry and Robbie Keane were made look like amatures. 'Arrys tactics were predictable and one dimensional, and R.Keane is not fit to captain accrington stanley, never mind , Spurs, saying that, thre isnt much difference in class between AccringtonStanley and Spurs. Arsenal will roll on now, knowing the could have won that game 6,7-0 and give it everything in their next match to show how deadly they really are....

By Dean.. Posted November 1 2009 at 10:50 AM.

Spurs have got better this season there's no doubt, but yesterday they reverted to type. The right to left diagonal ball hoping to win the evitable knock down from Crouch was too easily defended by Arsenal. Harrys tactics were woeful yesterday he was found out when it mattered most. And Wenger should say thank you to Robbie Keane for his team talk

By Liv 4 ever.. Posted November 1 2009 at 10:33 AM.

To all you spurs losers !!

FOYS

By Diggers.. Posted November 1 2009 at 10:17 AM.

WENGER MAKES ME LAUGH HE GETS ANGRY WHEN WE ARE 3-0 UP AT HOME YET LAST WEEK WHEN WE WERE 2-0 UP AT WEST HAM HE SAT ON HIS SEAT WITH HIS ARMS FOLDED.HE SHOULD BE UP ON HIS FEET EVERY GAME
ARSENAL CAN WIN THE LEAGUE IF WE CAN CONCENTRATE FOR 90 MINS EVERY GAME

By Ron.. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:46 AM.

Harry Redknapp is a joke, face it Harry you were outplayed all over the park yesterday. Your tactics were woeful and I'm sure Spuds fans got sick of seeing long diagonal balls to Crouch almost every time you had possession. Arsenal were superior in every department and showed you Spuds up at the end. Even your own fans were walking out with 10 minutes to go. On the performances of Gunners this year we are genuine title contenders, Robbie Keane, can you say that about Spuds???

By Holloway.. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:41 AM.

We were an embarrassment! Arsenal, unfortunately, played well. I am not going to blame loosing our 3 best players, Lennon, Modric and Defoe. We cannot revolve around 3 players. I blame lack of focus, concentration, and stupidity for our embarrassing loss.

Well played Arsenal.

By Reece Barber.. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:21 AM.

Harry you got more work to do to be talked in the same breath with our Wenger. what a good way to bury our rivals.thats what we call polonium 10 dished out to you spurs.

By njenga gatehi.. Posted November 1 2009 at 8:17 AM.

My thoughts:

Before the game begain there was a lot of talk from HR about how close Tottenham are to Arsenal and even went on to say the game was all theres, but this talk had no foundations, was it fear, i am not sure but on the opposing side... Arsene Wenger didn't want to disrespect his counter part by suggesting they will win, no... he simply pointed out the facts, Champions League 12 seasons in a row... Come on Harry, don't play psychological games with AW as he is educated enough to see through you and your lame team...

Last time you beat us at home ... I was probably still in nappies...

THFC have improved and it pains me to say this as an Arsenal fan, but so have Arsenal and we are not the team of last season, which was known for its weaknesses and not wanting to get physical, we have both Diaby and Song, who dont mind rolling up there sleeves and getting rough...

Bottom line is... I think the title race will be between three teams... Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Uts (the weakest of the two, however still grind out results) Liverpool... without Stevee and most of all Torres are just poor really poor...

Man City could surprise the leagues Top 4 this season, but i dont think they have the bottle to maintain there run, too many sulkers and over paid 'average' players...

till the next time...

By Easy E.. Posted November 1 2009 at 7:14 AM.

Spurs team yesterday were an embarrassment Harry tells me were on par with that team from south London, maybe he should tell his players because they are not on the same bus. I am sick and tied of being 2nd best to them.
Every player that played yesterday should have his wages docked for a month and given to charity.
What a disgrace

By Arnie.. Posted November 1 2009 at 7:01 AM.

By Arnie.. Posted November 1 2009 at 7:02 AM.

`Arry must be mad surely. One team was content with just defending the other was trying to win a football game.
Lose concentration for a second and thta`s what happens. Spuds never stop amusing.

What gap?

By Pelvis.. Posted November 1 2009 at 6:27 AM.

pure class as always..

By Proud IndianGooner.. Posted November 1 2009 at 3:30 AM.

Total humiliation for Spurs and especially the delusional Robbie Keane. He should concentrate on his game because he looks the worst player in a very average Spurs team. And Harry Redknapp saying post-match that there's nothing between the two teams is so embarrassing that laughter is the only reply to that. Bless'em.

By frankie.. Posted November 1 2009 at 3:45 AM.

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