By Ian Grant
Arsenal fans watching tonight’s u-21 international with Holland would have left with a warm glow.
Debutants David Bentley and Justin Hoyte linked up well on the right side, when the latter came on at half-time, reminiscent of Cole and Pires on the left at Arsenal. They had a natural understanding creating oulet balls for each other – born of developing together.
The athletic and speedy Hoyte has attracted rave reviews. He was less prominent than Bentley in this game.
Arsenal see the future for Bentley in the centre, ideally as a half-striker. In this game he played on the right, not his natural position. But he has great ability to make space and time for himself in tight situations, and find team-mates with a range of short or long passes.
His longer passes are reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp, illustrative of 3D vision, quite Beckhamesque in their foresight, but in this game, mostly along the ground.
We keep hearing that there is so much more to Jose Reyes game – very fast dribbling, fantastic running into space, natural predatory instincts. But this game also demonstrated Bentley’s versatile skills.
He too finds space with ease, can beat defenders with both pace and trickery, can make chances in the area for himself, and can play in others with killer passes. Reyes is more a natural finisher. Bentley is more a creator for himself and others.
And he’s a potential match-winner. Nearly was tonight. Taking the ball mid-way through the second half, with the score at 1-1, he drove on into the heart of the Dutch area, beat one defender with a trick and unleashed a Reyes-type left foot thunderbolt, which went in off the post. The Dutch equalised, before Bent tapped in the winner.
He may have a tendency to be an exhibitionist – to do the complex, when the simple pass would be better for the team. Poking his tongue out at the camera when he first came on was an illustration of this flashy side. But his latent talent is so there, that Wenger and Rice can no doubt live with show off tendencies, as they are honed down by experience.
The curious thing about watching Robin van Persie (for the first time) is that he plays in the same position that Arsenal see for Bentley.
They are different players though. Van Persie oozes footballing class, as if he is aware of a fourth dimension. He is the natural metronome of the team. Most of the attacking play goes through him.
He’s tall for the type of role he plays. And the nearest player he reminds me of is Gunter Netzer, the German international, who once destroyed England at Wembley with his preception.
Van Persie has a wicked left foot, and is a good crosser. He creates chances for himself and others by his awareness, more than with quick feet and ball control skills (although he doesn’t lack either quality).
Some reports say Arsenal are still in for him. Whether this is a hangover from the transfer window – where he got a rough time from Feyernoord fans following the leaking of Arsenal’s bid, or whether the interest is real, time will tell.
But Arsenal could accomodate a talent such as van Persie, along with Bentley. Both have such footballing skill – they could be inter-changeable and adaptable, by the same token.