Van Persie can be next Bergkamp

This could be the moment for Robin van Persie. As Arsenal's season stutters, Arsene Wenger is giving serious thought to freshening the team before frustration grows into failure.

Cue the 21-year-old Dutchman who cost a bargain £3million from Feyenoord in the summer and whose name prompts a one-word reaction whenever it is put to Wenger.

"Class," says the manager. That quality was in evidence last week as Van Persie inspired a youthful Arsenal to Carling Cup victory at Manchester City and again last Saturday when he rescued a point with a stunning late equaliser having come on against Southampton in the Premiership.

Van Persie was summoned from the bench again against Panathinaikos on Tuesday and caused problems. No winning goal, but perhaps not even Hans Christian Andersen would have got that by the publishers. Still, the week may yet have a fairytale ending with a place in the starting line-up at Crystal Palace on Saturday. And it would be at the expense of another Dutchman - Dennis Bergkamp.

Van Persie can play wide and has featured as a frontman. But his favoured role is the "shadow striker" position that Bergkamp has filled with such distinction at club and international level.

Intimidation is not a word Van Persie is familiar with. In common with many of his compatriots, he has no problems with shyness. His dress sense - he wore white trousers with huge black stripes when he signed - is Ljungberg-esque and he shows the same individuality on the training field. He has made a favourable impression on Wenger's multi-talented squad and Robert Pires in particular has been taken with his skills.