Rafael van der Vaart shows he's a big-game hunter

11 April 2012

Gareth Bale might have been named PFA Player of the Year but it was the performance of his fellow nominee, Rafael van der Vaart, against Arsenal that will give Tottenham hope they can claim the prize everyone at White Hart Lane really craves.

Two goals in last night's 3-3 draw suggests Van der Vaart has shaken off his mid-season lethargy.

A player signed to add class and experience in Spurs' first season in the Champions League, the Dutchman's return to form will give his club belief that they can qualify for the tournament again.

The former Real Madrid star made an immediate impression when he moved to White Hart Lane last summer, providing the inspiration and personality to push Spurs forward during the opening months of the campaign. He excelled in both domestic and European contests and it seemed the club had made one of their best signings of recent times.

Yet before last night's derby against Arsenal, his fine work in the early days of his Premier League career had been tarnished slightly by several drab displays in 2011. At its best, Van der Vaart's football is exuberant and carries a dash of magic but there was little sign of these qualities in recent weeks. He was also carrying a calf problem, meaning manager Harry Redknapp had to be careful not to over-stretch him.

The flip side was that Van der Vaart grew testy at frequently being substituted by Redknapp. His habit of heading straight down the tunnel after being taken off, rather than joining team-mates in the dug-out, irritated Redknapp and relations between them appeared to grow chilly as a result.

The best players, though, are often defined by their ability to demonstrate their talent in the most important matches and against Arsenal last night the midfielder delivered. Starting on the right but always drifting inside, he was full of ideas, energy and commitment.

His first goal - a fizzing right-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area that flew past Wojciech Szczesny's left hand - was his first from open play for Spurs since January 5 and quickly breathed life into a team dazed by Theo Walcott's early strike.

Arsenal held sway in the first half but, in the second, Van der Vaart and the outstanding Luka Modric drove their team forward - with Bale having been taken off injured - forcing the Gunners to wilt.

Another quality that excellent footballers possess is a willingness to take charge of high-pressure situations. When Szczesny brought down substitute Aaron Lennon for a penalty, Van der Vaart - as he did at Emirates Stadium earlier in the campaign - controlled his heart rate, cleared his mind and found the corner of the net to secure a draw for Spurs.

The 28-year-old remarked that last night's derby was "what football is about" and this opinion should make Spurs supporters optimistic about what he will contribute for the rest of the season.

The sense is that many of the Holland international's strengths and weaknesses reflect those of his team: lively and dangerous against the best sides at home and in Europe; often uninspired and distracted against those lower in the Premier League. With tests against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City - again Spurs' principal rivals for a Champions League place - ahead, the pattern of the season for Van der Vaart and Spurs indicates that both player and club can flourish.

Spurs' only victories against top-six sides this season came against Arsenal and Liverpool, yet the 2-0 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford last October was their only loss in seven League matches against English football's elite. Van der Vaart has also warmed to those tasks and Arsenal will certainly be glad to see the back of him, as he has three goals in two matches against them.

His occasional tactical indiscipline can be enough to make a manager weep but this stage of the season is as much about personality as it is about strategy. Whatever his foibles, he is immensely self-assured on the pitch. His skills would enhance most teams, yet it is his utter refusal to be intimidated that should prove as valuable an asset as Spurs prepare for the decisive battles in west London, Liverpool and Manchester.

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