Ladies and gentlemen: The World’s Smallest Strikeforce
Add comment November 17th, 2009
So it’s confirmed: Robin van Persie will miss the next six weeks with an ankle injury. The spell on the sidelines will see him miss key games against the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, but given Robin’s tendency to suffer massive lay-offs I still think we’ve come off rather lightly. All we have to hope now is that his treatment progresses well and he is ready to return in the new year.
However, with Nicklas Bendtner (and indeed Theo Walcott) also out it does leave us somewhat light upfront. Eduardo is the natural replacement for Van Persie, though since returning from ‘that’ ankle injury he has never been asked to play a consistent run of games. Whether or not he’s up to the challenge remains to be seen.
This Guardian piece speculates that Andrey Arshavin could be the man deployed in the middle in Van Persie’s absence. It wouldn’t completely surprise me: Arshavin has been used there late on in games to help facilitate counter-attacks.
What is clear is that whoever we play will be part of one of the smallest front threes in footballing history. Eduardo, Arshavin, Rosicky, Nasri and Walcott are all some way off six foot. Until Bendtner returns we can give up on the possibility of scoring with too many towering headers.
In the meantime, a strikeforce of Arshavin, Eduardo and Walcott doesn’t look too shabby. The major strength of the team this season has been its ability to get goals from all over the park – despite his good form, Robin isn’t even our top scorer. As long as the likes of Fabregas, Arshavin, Diaby, and the centre-backs keep chipping in, we should be able to cover the Dutchman’s absence.
Our first test will be this Saturday, at the Stadium of Light. Let’s hope for no more injuries between now and then…
