With two days until the season kick-off, Robin Van Persie’s future appears to have been decided with the announcement that Arsenal have agreed terms with Manchester United.
The official statement arrived this evening from Arsenal and United have also offered confirmation of the move, subject to a medical.
This is obviously momentous news on the eve of the Premier League and Fantasy season. Undoubtedly the biggest move of the summer transfer window so far, the Dutchman’s move to Old Trafford is – from a Fantasy perspective – arguably the most significant transfer since Cristiano Ronaldo left the Old Trafford club for Real Madrid in 2009:
Sir Alex Ferguson’s acquisition of the former Gunners skipper hands United a lethal looking frontline as they look to wrestle the title back from neighbours City. The two top scoring players in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) in 2011/12, Van Persie and Rooney – with 269 and 230 points respectively – will surely rack up goals aplenty but, with either of the two more than capable of accruing huge points hauls to the other’s detriment in any given Gameweek, we are left with an unwanted armband dilemma as the Fantasy landscape around us is altered irrevocably.
Quite how Van Persie will fit into the pecking order in terms of set-pieces and spot-kicks is a crucial factor which will be keenly anticipated by Fantasy managers – if Rooney continues as the number one for penalties, the Dutchman’s stock will clearly drop in our estimations, with a tussle for bonus also a significant factor is how we invest in the United frontline. The Fantasy popularity of new boy Shinji Kagawa perhaps now looks a little less appealing until a clearer picture of the situation at Old Trafford, in terms of tactics and the likelihood of rotation, is established.
Over at the Emirates, Van Persie’s departure is surely set to boost the long-term appeal of new signings Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud. The Gunners’ French-based scout Gilles Grimandi admitted only last month that Giroud was signed from Montpellier in anticipation of Van Persie leaving – a central role looks likely for the Frenchman, then, but with Wenger conceding his summer signings will be eased into action in the season ahead, their initial impact is perhaps questionable. Despite this, it seems Podolski, at least, is set to start against Sunderland on Saturday as the Gunners gear up for action without their former skipper.
Fellow new-boy Santi Cazorla, though, now looks the most likely Gunner to benefit in terms of set-pieces; potentially, he should be handed corners and free-kicks, while the issue of spot-kicks looks up for grabs – Podolski scored from the spot on Sunday, though it’s worth noting that Mikel Arteta didn’t feature in the 4-0 win over Cologne.
We’ll have more on the full impact of the Van Persie move and its knock-on effects for both sides in a more substantial Moving Target later.
