Should the soaring Dutchman and his teenage sidekick be rested bearing in mind Arsenal have a crunch Champions League tie with AC Milan in midweek?
For two months now, Arsene Wenger has been desperate to rest his unstoppable striker.
But a lack of faith in his understudies and the Dutchman’s phenomenal form has seen him play in nearly every game.
Wenger was talking about resting van Persie for the Blackburn game, but decided against it.
Fortunately for him he made the right decision, van Persie scored a hat-trick and provided two assists in a thumping 7-1 victory, although it nearly backfired when Gael Givet hacked him down in the first half.
In hindsight, may be the Blackburn game was the one to rest him, Arsenal likely would have won that with ease regardless.
This weekend’s trip to the Stadium of Light, to face Martin O’Neill’s in-form Sunderland side promises to be a different kettle of fish entirely.
Arsenal cannot afford to take it easy, as one of four teams locked in a very competitive battle for thr fourth spot. Arsenal need a win to keep the pace.
Last season they drew 1-1 at Sunderland, thanks to a late Darren Bent goal for the home side, and this year it could be even tougher.
The Champions League tie against Milan is winnable, and Wenger will want van Persie fit and fresh, but it is likely he will play some part against Sunderland.
The question is will he start on the pitch or on the bench?
The same applies to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The youngster has been let loose in recent games, terrorising Blackburn, but Wenger has been even more determined to wrap the teenager in cotton wool.
It is likely AOC will start on the bench, and be thrown in against Milan, with Gervinho still absent on African Nations Cup duty. What a night that will be for the youngster against the Italian champions.
Wenger has the option of Thierry Henry, which he will not this time next month. Then there is Marouane Chamakh, who is back from the Nations Cup and available for selection.
Should Henry or Chamakh start against Sunderland with van Persie on the bench?
What do you think Wenger should do?
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