Manchester United: Why It's Time to Start James Wilson over Robin Van Persie

After Manchester United's thrilling 2-1 victory at the Emirates, the club have catapulted up to fourth in the Premier League table and have a bit of newfound optimism.

However, that does not mean that all of United's problems are solved. Far from it, actually.

While the topic of a weak defense has been largely mentioned—and somewhat justified by injuries—a new, more surprising trend has emerged in recent weeks: the downfall of Robin van Persie.

The Dutch striker has never been a player with unbelievable pace, and at 31 years of age, it is reasonable that he has lost a step. This situation is similar to that of Wayne Rooney, who has never been an Olympic-level sprinter, and, understandably, doesn't look quite as quick as his 20-year-old self.

However, while both players lack immense speed, there is a massive difference between the two: form.

Rooney, for all of his faults, and with all of his critics, has produced to a captain's standard recently. After scoring three goals in two games for England, he played an industrious, impressive game vs. Arsenal and scored what turned out to be the game's winning goal.

Van Persie, at the moment, is far more a man of legacy and reputation than a man in form. He hasn't scored in a month (Chelsea), and generally fades in and out of games with little involvement.

After completing a mere 11 and 25 passes vs. Manchester City and Crystal Palace respectively, Van Persie experienced a massive low point vs. Arsenal, completing only six passes in 75 minutes of action and not taking a single shot. He was replaced by James Wilson, who completed 10 passes in much less time.

WhoScored.com

Playing Rooney and Van Persie in the same lineup will always be a risky move that would sacrifice pace, but with Van Persie largely out of form, it is no longer a lineup worth pursuing.

It is time for James Wilson to get a shot.

Van Persie's slow, clunky and often nonexistent movement is detrimental to United, as Rooney and Angel Di Maria often find little space to run into, and little else to do with the ball than play it flatly to the big center forward.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Contrarily, in the sparse time that Wilson usually plays at the end of matches, he brings dynamism and energy to the side. Open to shifting out to the wings, Wilson generally works hard and succeeds in helping United create an open style of play. 

In his five substitute appearances, he has averaged 0.4 dribbles per game, per WhoScored.com, a number that would look really impressive if extrapolated to the amount of time a starter would usually play.

By contrast, Van Persie has only completed 0.7 dribbles per game, a small number that encapsulates his limited involvement, negative play and overall diminishing ability.

In fairness, Van Persie is more careful with the ball than Wilson, as the Dutchman has completed 85 percent of his passes to the Englishman's 72 percent. Wilson's mediocre passing numbers show that he is still largely a work in progress, while Van Persie, at the very least, can be counted on to pass the ball accurately.

However, United will need more than accurate passing from their forwards to have success this season, and Van Persie's numbers are probably bloated from his general scarcity of passes attempted anyways.

Though Wilson may not be as refined a player as Van Persie, he has far superior movement, speed and work ethic, which are all vital to the quick, attacking football United would like to play.

With games against Hull City and Stoke City coming up, where United will be favorites, Louis Van Gaal would be foolish not to give his young striker a chance to show his talents.

Stats and info via ESPNFC and WhoScored.com