Arsenal Special: Vela Could Be Next Up To Try And Fill van Persie Void

There is a sense of déjà vu, if not even some desperation, about the news that Arsene Wenger is considering giving Carlos Vela his first start of the season in Tuesday's Champions League Group H game against Standard Liege.

In the absence of the injured Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner, Wenger has obvious problems at center-forward. In his 4-3-3 system, often used flexibly to become 4-5-1 or, if you wish to be pedantic, 4-2-1-3, or other variations, the common factor is the need for an accomplished all-round central striker. The Mexican, only 20, is clearly in form and ready, but....

This is the job that Didier Drogba performed with exemplary distinction for Chelsea under Jose Mourinho, when they played an attacking 4-3-3, with two wingers; and also in an entirely different fashion by Cristiano Ronaldo, when Manchester United adopted that system, in selected fixtures during the closing weeks of last season, including their crushing win at the Emirates Stadium in that Champions League semi-final second leg fixture.

Critically, whoever the player, the role needs to be played with confidence and verve. The center-forward must be the focal point of the attack, capable of showing for and demanding the ball across the width of the pitch in the final third and of holding up play to bring others into the game and stimulate combination play, and positional interchanges, that lead to opportunities to score.

It is a role that van Persie has understood and interpreted well, and naturally, this season (as he should being a Dutchman from the school of Johann Cruyff and Marco van Basten, two arch-exponents of the role). His strike rate - seven goals in 11 league games before his ankle injury - was good, but even better was the team's confidence in him and his ability to be at the center of their attacking play in what is now often called 'the top' of the pitch; 36 goals in 12 games tell the story.

On Saturday, Eduardo was entrusted with the role by Wenger for the visit to Sunderland. The Rio-born Croatian is, of course, a natural finisher, and a sharp creative player and mover, but (at 5ft 10 in and just over 10 stone) he lacks the presence of a van Persie (6ft and 11 stone) or Bendtner (6ft 2in and 13 stone) - let alone Drogba (6ft 2 in and 13 stone 8 lbs).

Perfect fit | Van Persie has excelled as lone striker

And Eduardo is probably a player who is more effective as an impact substitute, or by using someone else as his foil - he has played well off van Persie, ironically, this season. Indeed, his very versatility is both his strength and his weakness as he appears to be one of those many Arsenal prototype forwards with great skill, pace and movement, but no speciality in any role.

It is therefore understandable that Wenger is considering Vela who, while very similar in stature to Eduardo, is a more traditional center-forward player - and on Saturday, as a substitute, proved he can bring others into the game with his hold-up play. In short, he may be a better immediate fit for the job than Eduardo, who has so far proved his worth as a jack-of-all-trades, as a forward, if not yet a master of any single one for Arsenal.

Vela, Wenger said, is "a fantastic talent." He compared him to Robbie Fowler. "He needs very little time to make a decision in the box. He is relaxed when he finishes and he has a very short back-lift. He is left-footed and he is a similar size..." In other words, he also resembles van Persie in some ways.

The probable return of Theo Walcott is, similarly, a reflection on the limp performances of Samir Nasri and Tomas Rosicky at Sunderland in a fixture they clearly did not fancy, though Wenger may only be using a bit of kidology here to stimulate a higher-quality performance from proven high-quality players.

And, dare it be said, it is the continued absence of Abou Diaby, through injury, that has coincided with this slip in form. He may not be the eye-catching, perfectionist in a team of ball-jugglers, but his rangy style, long-legged tackling and covering and awkwardness in possession gives Arsenal a physical presence in midfield that was missed sorely last weekend. Like Alex Song, he does a lot of the team's dirty work.

But against Standard Liege, in an important match that Arsenal must win, the focus will not be on defending, but on attacking with verve and edge against a side that has been struggling in the Belgian league, but which is capable of rising to the occasion in Europe. Wenger has warned his men of this. And with Chelsea coming on Sunday, he knows it is time to bounce back.

"You have to respond after a disappointing result. That's when you judge a big team and that's what we have to do," he said. For Arsenal and Wenger, this is a test that might prove more difficult than it looks - though a single goal win, and a goal from Vela, if he plays, would be enough to calm nerves that have shown signs of a few Basil Fawlty-style twitches.