Why Arsenal should be first in line to re-sign turncoat striker
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As the famous old saying goes “never go back”, but try telling that to Chelsea’s ecstatic fans whose reunion with former manager Jose Mourinho just bore fruit in the most glorious fashion.
Occasionally, if the circumstances are ripe, returning to an old stomping ground can work.
This is definitely the case where Arsenal and a previous crowd favourite are concerned.
Having let Cesc Fabregas slip through his fingers last summer, before witnessing the Spaniard rack up an obscene amount of assists en-route to the Premier League title, Arsene Wenger must secretly seethe.
Redemption could be at hand though. The chance to push his own talented ensemble over the title-winning line next season may be about to present itself in the form of another former Gunners hero.
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, once the subject of fan adoration at the Emirates, is likely to be put up for sale this summer, three seasons after ditching Arsenal in favour of Old Trafford to the disgust of Gooners everywhere.
At 31, his powers are waning slightly, but the two-time Premier League top scorer still carries an enviable goals-to-games ratio, only a rung or two below the division’s finest.
Rumours linking the Dutchman to the likes of Champions League semi-finalists Juventus attest to RVP’s enduring quality.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s thirst for a world-class striker to back up Olivier Giroud as the focal point of a 4-3-3 system has still not been quenched, with countless names linked over the past few seasons.
After a promising start Danny Welbeck has since confirmed suspicions he is not that man, albeit he’s still very effective playing out wide.
The fact United were willing to sell the England regular to Arsenal also bodes well for the potential return of RVP though, as does Wenger’s track record for re-signing players.
Over the years there have been successful returns for Sol Campbell, Thierry Henry, Jens Lehmann and most recently Mathieu Flamimi for reference.
If it means Arsenal getting closer to the dream of a first Premier League title in a decade then bygones really should be bygones where RVP is concerned.
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