The Dutchman needs four goals in the Gunners four remaining matches of 2011 to break Alan Shearer’s record.
Van Persie has said of his form: “I feel I’m a real no. 9 now, I think like a striker. Sometimes I amaze even myself on that.”
Van Persie scored his 33rd goal of the year last weekend and has been averaging 1.03 goals per game, compared to Shearer’s 0.86 in 1995 and Thierry Henry’s 0.87 in 2004. Trips to Manchester City and Aston Villa, followed by home games with Wolves and QPR, provide the captain with a very realistic opportunity to crown his magnificent year by breaking the record.
Shearer, the all time Premier League top goal scorer, firmly believes that the 28-year-old can surpass his tally from 1995: “He will beat my total of 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year. Records are there to be broken and I can think of no better striker than the Dutchman to write his name in the history books.”
Arsene Wenger has praised the maturity of his top scorer. “When he first joined Arsenal [in 2004] Robin was nervous, he was impatient, like every young player. Now he is completely different. I give the most credit in my job to those who can change,” explained the manager.
Wenger signed Van Persie from Feyenoord for £3m – just a fraction of his value today. And with Arsenal failing to win a trophy in any of the past six seasons, many fear the star striker could look to move elsewhere.
However, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood is confident that there are no concerns over the striker’s desire to be at the club. “I think Robin wants to stay,” he said. “Nothing has been discussed, though it is obvious we want him stay. He doesn’t want to talk about a contract now and that’s fine with us.”
Despite his obvious goal scoring ability, things haven’t always been easy for the Dutch international. Serious ankle and foot injuries had caused him to miss large chunks of previous campaigns. He was limited to 19 league starts last season and just 14 before that in the 2009/2010 season.
“There have been nagging doubts in the past about his fitness and his ability to play a long spell of games without interruption,” said Shearer. “He has put that right over the last year and proved beyond doubt he is up there with the world’s best.”
Wenger said: “He’s had an outstanding season so let’s hope we can keep him fit.”
Van Persie has scored some spectacular goals in his time, including Saturday’s audacious volley against Everton. “Normally I would have taken a touch to get it right. It was a bit of a gamble but in the end a very nice goal just inside the post. I can’t wish for more,” he explained.
Shearer, the scorer of some exceptional goals himself, said: “Van Persie can score goals any way you like. He puts away headers, tap-ins and rockets.”
With Arsenal in the knockout phases of the Champions League and the Netherlands looking good for Euro 2012 success, while their talisman is in such scintillating form in front of goal, it looks set to be a very happy new year for Robin van Persie.
By Robert Bosworth
