Not true, we had a decent amount of chances but just kept missing the target. Di maria had a shot in the first half, Smalling had the glorious chance from a corner that he completely mis-hit his shot, Di Maria's shot at the end was also off target. It's not really a telling stat as a lot, or the vast majority of Arsenal's shots were from outside the box and not really threatening. It's not like we parked the bus and didn't even look to get forward. Apart from the first 30 minutes which was awful, we broke forward well and in numbers, just took the wrong option now and then but you can't blame that for RvP not getting involved. Wilson had 5 more touches in his 15/20 minutes that he played then Van Persie had in the entire game until he got subbed (18 for Wilson, 13 for RvP). RvP was just non existant today.
Agreed, as I said previously, Wilson did more in the 20 minutes he was on than RVP did in the entire game. It’s never good when you can’t remember a single thing a player did during a game.
This is exactly what I mean. Wilson came on fresh in a completely different situation, where Arsenal are 0-1 down and looked shaky opposed to them looking very good until the goal. So he comes on, has a couple of touches and then? How is that comparable to RVP's situation, I just don't see it?
Using the same logic, I could just as easily say Wilson didn't add anything in terms of being a goal threat either. Yet when he came on there was a lot more space than RVP had, so it should've been easier for Wilson.
A much more fair comparison is Di Maria vs. RVP. Both played as a striker today, both didn't get a shot on target the first 70 minutes or so, how is that not a telling stat? Di Maria only got a shot on goal and an assist after Arsenal were 0-1 down and it was a completely different game. First 70 minutes in a comparable situation, I feel Di Maria wasn't much more dangerous or better than RVP.
I do obviously agree with you that RVP was non-existent today. But if you look at the tactics, Di Maria played the Robben role, with the freedom to roam around more, coming into the ball. RVP was the highest man up the pitch in putting pressure on two central defenders, making his trademark diagonal runs. Both playing upfront the way that best suits their style.
Still don't see how it's RVP's fault that Arsenal were outplaying us until our lucky goal and got desperate after that. And I don't see how it is RVP's fault our midfield and defense didn't reach him. They did try to hoof a couple of balls to him I guess. But Di Maria also struggled until very late when Arsenal were already losing it, showing it wasn't easy playing up front. I already mentioned that with a little luck, RVP would've scored 2-0 after that brilliant Di Maria pass to Rooney who was flagged offside.
Aside from that I guess I can see where you are coming from, it's fair to expect more of Robin van Persie, I just don't think his situation is that bad and I don't feel he needs to be dropped per se. A fit Falcao is a brilliant option, but he seemed to click very good with RVP, so why not take a defender (Blackett/McNair) out and play with both RVP and Falcao up top as soon as that's possible?
feck's sake.