Why Robin Van Persie Can Benefit from Wayne Rooney Injury at Manchester United

With Louis van Gaal confirming to MUTV on Friday (via the club's official website) that Wayne Rooney will not be available when Manchester United take on Arsenal, Robin van Persie is in with a chance of ending a difficult season on a high.

In the heady days of June 2014, it did not seem that a difficult season would be in the offing.

When Van Persie executed his magnificent diving header as Netherlands beat Spain 5-1 at last summer's World Cup, he and Van Gaal high-fived in celebration and United hearts soared. Here was a revived and re-energised striker, back to his brilliant best, celebrating with the club's new manager.

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But that brilliant best has proved elusive. An electrifying purple patch in November and December 2014 aside, he has rarely looked in top form during Van Gaal's reign.

Part of it may simply be to do with the ageing process and its physical effects. Van Persie has had plenty of injuries during his career, so seeing him slow down in his later years is perhaps not a surprise.

However, part of it has also looked systemic. Struggling to accommodate his best players into a starting XI, Van Gaal often used Van Persie to partner Radamel Falcao, an approach which seemed to end with the duo looking considerably less than the sum of their parts.

In an interview with Dutch television channel NOS last season, Van Persie infamously complained about other players being in his zones (h/t the Guardian). Watching him and Falcao running towards the same spaces as a front two certainly brought that to mind.

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He has not been alone in poor form. Much was made of Rooney moving back up front and how much better United looked with him in attack. However, in recent weeks he has been far from productive, with one goal and one assist in his past seven United games—although he did play in a slightly deeper role in a couple of those.

His performances have left much to be desired, and none of United's forwards have done enough to make the No. 9 position their own.

Given that there seems little reason for the Red Devils to retain Falcao's services next season, it is Van Persie who must take advantage of Rooney's absence. Two seasons ago it was the Dutchman who inspired Sir Alex Ferguson's last hoorah.

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There could be little debate in 2012/13 as to who United's first-choice centre-forward should be—it was Van Persie all the way. In the intervening almost-two seasons, Rooney has generally displayed better form than his Dutch counterpart.

However, he has only sporadically approached either his or Van Persie's best. If there is any way that the latter can rediscover that, there is every chance he would deserve a place up front next season.

Van Persie has plenty to prove. It will take more than a two-game run for him to do so, but he did look relatively bright in the first half against West Bromwich Albion at the beginning of May. He will want to impress against his old club, too, against whom he so enthusiastically celebrated last season.

It is rumoured that Van Gaal may be prepared to sell his compatriot in the summer, per David McDonnell in the Mirror, for example.  With that in mind, this could be Van Persie's last chance to do enough to keep his place in the United squad.

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United would, of course, benefit greatly from the 2012/13 version of Van Persie re-emerging.

Rooney's injury could not be better timed from the Dutchman's perspective. It is now up to him to take full advantage.