Van Persie spurred by World Cup disappointment

Had things turned out differently for the Netherlands at Soccer City in Johannesburg on July 11, Robin van Persie would be reporting for duty with Arsenal this week with a World Cup winners’ medal.

Instead, Spain’s defeat of the Dutch in the final meant van Persie finished the tournament empty-handed, while his own poor performances in South Africa will have been a source of concern for Gunners manager Arsene Wenger.

Van Persie missed the second half of last season after injuring his ankle in a friendly with Italy in November, but returned to fitness in time to hit scintillating form in the Netherlands’ pre-World Cup friendlies.

In three games he scored four goals, including a beautifully taken brace in a 2-1 win against Mexico and his side’s opening goal in a 6-1 demolition of Hungary in Amsterdam that was Holland’s final warm-up match.

The 26-year-old looked fit, sharp and hungry, and ready to mount a serious challenge for the World Cup Golden Boot, but he struggled to assert himself in South Africa and his influence was fitful.

The Netherlands may have made the final, eliminating Brazil en route, but van Persie looked far from his best.

His only goal came in a 2-1 group-phase win over Cameroon, after the Dutch had already secured a place in the second round, and he was a peripheral figure in the final.

Former England manager Graham Taylor, commentating on the tournament for the BBC, attributed van Persie’s lack of influence to the competition for top billing in Holland’s attacking hierarchy.

“When he plays for Arsenal he gets the ball whenever he asks for it,” said Taylor. “For the Netherlands that isn’t the case because they have other great individuals like (Wesley) Sneijder and (Arjen) Robben, and you can see van Persie gets very frustrated by that.”

For all his World Cup heartache, van Persie remains a fundamental component of Wenger’s side and his influence would become even more crucial if Arsenal were to lose captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona.

Van Persie will embark upon the 2010-11 campaign in the Arsenal number 10 shirt once worn by his illustrious compatriot Dennis Bergkamp, after it was vacated by the outgoing William Gallas.

The striker’s blend of superb ball control, powerful shooting and penalty box dexterity means comparisons with Bergkamp are not ill-founded and Wenger believes he possesses the skills to become the league’s top striker.

“What he has around the box is very difficult to give to a striker,” said the Arsenal coach last season.

“He moves away from the defenders around the box in a very, very perfect way. The timing of his runs is fantastic.

“Robin is at an age where a football player becomes really efficient, mature, and wants to win things.

“That is why I believe he can be the best passer in the league and he can be the best goalscorer in the league.”