Skill over Simulation?

Arjen Robben - arguably one of the best players in the world when he is on form, and recently his performances have proved it. His illustrious career started at Dutch club Groningen before moving to PSV for a few seasons where he caught the eye of Chelsea and moved to the Premiership. He has also had a short spell at Real Madrid and now is at Bayern Munich. This season hes been prolific scoring 20 goals, which has helped his side in challenging for another Bundeliga and cementing a place in the last four of the Champions League, knocking out Fiorentina and Manchester United in the process with two stunning strikes. Tonight he continued his rich vein of form with a great performance against Lyon securing a comfortable 1-0 lead in the Champions League Semi -Final. The french side had obviously not been watching him closely enough as time and time again, they let him cut in on his strongest side - his left- and run in on goal, which inevitably led to Bayern's goal. He collected the ball on the right hand side and drove in on his left foot releasing a powerful strike which beat Lloris in goal with a hint of a deflection.

But for Lyon it could have been a lot worse, numerous times Robben ran at the Lyon defence his dribbling mesmerising to watch, leaving centre back Cris only a spectator at times before laying a chance off to the Bayern strikers or taking a shot himself. In fact Bayern could have and should have doubled their lead when Gomez was unmarked, Robben clipped a delightful ball onto the attackers head but he failed to get any purchase onto the header making it an easy save for the Lyon keeper.

However, there is a sort of Jekyll & Hyde character to Robben. Despite his effortless control, rapid speed and great finishing, the Dutchman is very prone to simulation or better known as diving or going down easily. Some would argue that this indeed is part of the game now - certainly in mainland Europe - where conning a referee into giving a player a decision has almost become second nature

But personally as a football fan, it is very frustrating to watch. There were times tonight where i was watching the game and thinking 'stay on your feet' or ' don't give up so easily!' But as usual he went down with the faintest of touches, moaning to the ref every time a decision went against him. He often if he was being challenged for the ball and felt that he was not going to end up with the ball, just stopped turned around facing the opposite way of play as to if insinuate he was body checked or the other player had fouled him - almost forcing the referee to give the decision to him and to be fair most of the time he did.

Nevertheless some people would say that this is good play by Robben manipulating the game into his hands and reaping the benefits and that other players dive and go down easily so why shouldn't he. And it is also true to say that there will be instances where his is actually fouled and not get the decision.

A certain argument to that is, well he is a gifted enough player he should not feel the need to go down so easily, however 2010 is an important year for Robben - his club looks almost certain to reach the Champions League Final, top of the Bundesliga by 2 points and his country - Holland should be challenging for the World Cup as well - hopefully from a footballing perspective we will see more of talent he has and less of the diving that comes with it.