Arsene Wenger insists that Arsenal are not a one-man team built around captain Robin van Persie.
Manager claims Arsenal effort allows Dutch forward to score goals
Arsene Wenger insists that Arsenal are not a one-man team, despite Robin van Persie's return to form coinciding with the Gunners' season coming to life.
The Gunners captain demolished Chelsea on Saturday with a hat-trick in his side's 5-3 victory at Stamford Bridge.
The Dutch international has now scored 27 goals in his last 28 matches, including seven in his last three Premier League games.
Reliant
His form has led some critics to claim Arsenal are now too reliant on the 28-year-old and there have been suggestions they will struggle if he suffers an injury.
Wenger believes, however, that Van Persie's goal spree is a result of the team performing well as a unit to bring the best out of their captain.
The Frenchman said: "Robin is an exceptional player who takes advantage of the team playing for him and working for him.
"When you have a centre forward who doesn't score people ask 'why do you not buy a centre forward,' then when a player scores lots people say are you too dependent on him.
"It is not so long ago that people asked me why I played him as a centre forward.
"He is scoring goals because the team works for him and he has an extraordinary talent to take those chances.
"He was out for a long time with injuries. Now he is back people have discovered he is a great player but I always thought he was exceptional. He has always scored goals."
Contract
With only 18 months left on his current deal, Van Persie's performances have raised doubts about his future at the club and the Dutchman has already admitted he is in no hurry to talk about an extension.
That could lead to a repeat of this year's summer transfer window when Arsenal were forced to sell Samir Nasri to Manchester City to avoid risking losing him on a free transfer.
Wenger would not be drawn into the debate about the forward's future and instead preferred to make the most of Van Persie's purple patch.
He added: "Money is not what you worry about, as long as they are at the club you want them to perform well.
"He is a good captain because of how he behaves on and off the pitch. He wants to do everything to make sure his team does well.
"Cesc was a good captain as well. Everyone has their own personality. Robin has gradually learned the job because Cesc played only 20 games in the league last season."
