"RVP on par with Messi, Ronaldo"

Posted Friday, November 25, 2011 by ESPN

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that Robin van Persie's form can rival Barcelona's Lionel Messi, as well as Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Dutchman has scored an astounding 38 goals since the start of this year, and was on the scoresheet once more in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in their UEFA Champions League Group F clash.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the Arsenal manager was asked if he believed that Van Persie's form meant that he could be considered on the same level as both Messi and Ronaldo, who have both been in fine fettle in La Liga so far this season.

Without hesitation, the Frenchman replied: "If he keeps going on like that, of course.

"Let him play and see at the end of the season. He is the leader of the team as well so what is important is that he leads the team to success.

"I feel he's an exceptional player and happy that he can show that. He thinks day and night about his game."

The Dutchman himself was effusive about the assists he gets from the rest of the Gunners.

Speaking to his club's official website, Van Persie said: "Theo [Walcott] has given me more assists than anyone else this year".

"I've certainly noticed it and that's why I really liked the fact that he gave me the ball for my 100th goal - it was meant to be!

"Hopefully I can give him some proper assists as well, because as a striker I believe assists are just as important as the goals you score.

"Theo's assists aren't lucky - they're proper assists, down to good movements, good actions, good final balls. For me that's perhaps even more important than a goal.

"For example, I look back at my first goal against Chelsea and don't really feel that it's mine - it's 95 per cent down to Gervinho. And my first goal against Norwich was 90 per cent Theo's - a fantastic first touch, great pace, good cross and bang, I tap it in.

"OK, it goes in my name, but that's a tiny part of the story. I do appreciate that, and hopefully I can give him and all the other guys just as much back.

"Don't forget Aaron [Ramsey], he was a bit unlucky against Norwich as he should probably have been passed to on a couple of occasions when he'd shown great movement to get into good positions.

"I should definitely have given him one ball, looking at it again, and there were other times too. If he keeps going that, though, he'll score goals."

The striker has shown an ability to score with either foot, and said: "The goals are going in and I'm in the zone where things are going well - balls just bounce in front of me and things are coming off, so why not try it?," he said.

"Everything with my right leg started when I was six or seven years old and did some training with it.

"I worked loads on my left foot when I was even younger - of course I was lucky to have some talent, but it came to life through hard work on the streets and in training.

"A couple of years later I did the same with my right. I knew for a very long time that my right leg was good enough, but when you're a left-footed player and miss a chance or two with your right then maybe people think, ‘it's his bad leg'.

"Personally I never felt that - I always felt confident, and now that seems to be coming out a bit more.

"Maybe in the past I'd choose to turn back onto my left foot, but with fitness and form you get more chances to take the odd risk here and there", the Dutchman concluded.

Mikel Arteta reponded: "We all know how good he is. Robin keeps performing and scoring goals, making the difference".

"At the moment he is level with any striker in the world, his numbers are unbelievable in the past eight or nine months.

"For me, it is just such a natural talent. Sometimes he looks as if he does not try, but beats players and scores an unbelievable goal.

"Robin is on fire, he is making the difference. Hopefully he can continue to do that and people can talk about him all the time, because that means we are winning."

Arteta added his thoughts on the win over Borussia Dortmund, saying: "We did not want to go to Greece having to win over there and we did the business against a really tough side.

"It takes a lot of pressure off and there are advantages to being top of the group, which gives you a better chance of going further.

"Every team in the Champions League are tough, but if there are ones you want to avoid then it is Real Madrid and Barcelona."

"We are trying to improve the team and have been in a really good run over the past two months," the 29-year-old Spaniard said.

"However, we are still catching up on other teams in the Premier League because we had a really bad start, so there is still a lot to do."

Manager Wenger admitted some surprise at how smooth Arsenal's qualification into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League has been, compared to their Premier League rivals.

The Arsenal manager revealed: "I have to be very cautious what I say.

"I think 'yes' as Manchester United could have qualified last night and everyone expected Manchester City to qualify.

"It is difficult at that level. You never play an easy game in the Champions League.

"It was a difficult group," he continued.

"When we saw we were playing Udinese [in the qualifying round] we could not bet that we would go through as we did."

Arsenal have already sealed their qualification as group champions, and will play next against Olympiakos on Dec 6 in their final group game.