Leuk stukje over Van Persie, ik ga hem bijna sympathiek vinden
Van Persie happy to wait Arsenal striker Robin van Persie may have seemingly disappeared without trace since his 2.75-million pound summer signing - but he insists he is happy to wait for his first-team chance.
The Holland under-21 international scored three times during Arsenal's pre-season games, while he also appeared as a half-time substitute in the Community Shield victory against Manchester United.
However, the nearest he has come to first-team action for the Gunners since then are two unused substitute roles in the Premiership game against Middlesbrough and the mid-week Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven.
It might be enough to leave some players wondering whether they had made the right move in giving up a regular first-team place at Feyenoord.
Van Persie, 21, admitted there is an element of frustration within him, especially with his intention to breakthrough into the Dutch senior squad.
However, he insisted: "Since the Community Shield, I've been on the bench or not in the team. It's frustrating for me as I want to play, but I knew that coming to a big club like Arsenal meant I would have to be patient.
"I'm training every day, quite well I think, and the manager makes the choices. It's a hard team to get into.
"But I have confidence in myself and I have confidence in the club, that's why I signed for Arsenal. I'm really happy to be here and now I'm just waiting for my chance.
"It's new for me as I was used to playing all the time in Holland. But I know that this is good for me in the end."
Van Persie did play for the full 90 minutes in the Dutch Uunder-21 side's recent goalless draw against the Czech Republic, but missed out on another senior call-up from coach Marco van Basten.
"I was disappointed not to play for them but he (van Basten) told me that I need to be playing for Arsenal first, so hopefully that will follow. I'll do my best here and then I think I'll get my chance with the national squad," he said.
Then again, van Persie has been warned what to expect at Highbury by other young players who took time to make it into a highly talented line-up.
Midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who is admittedly still just 17, had to wait six months before making his Premiership debut, while it took Jermaine Pennant three years to play his first league game.
Van Persie told the club's official programme: "I also spoke to Kolo Toure and he told me not to worry because, in his first six months at the club, he never played in the team.
"He just watched and trained with them. Then he got his chance. So he's told me to take it easy and my time will come."
And the Dutchman is finally starting to settle into life in London with his wife, having initially missed out on a move to London last January when negotiations fell through.
"At the start, it was very strange for me. Everything's different and I have to get used to the people, the money, everything," admitted van Persie.
"Last week, I was back in Holland and everything was normal. But since I've returned to England this time, I'm starting to feel at home again. All I miss is my friends and family really - nothing else is a problem."
..... comes great responsibility"
--==Forza PSV==-- --==Forza Nilis==--
I Shot Her Above The Kneecap, She Can Still Walk - Jack Bauer