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Arsenal’s gallant yet regrettable European exit to AC Milan all but confirmed the club’s seventh consecutive year without a trophy—but that shouldn’t mean their entire squad ends up empty-handed.
For it is surely a formality that the name Robin van Persie will be inscribed upon multiple “player of the year” trophies, not just for his club, but the Premier League too. Let’s save everybody’s time, eschew the tedious award ceremonies and just hand over the accolades now.
It’s become a customary lament that the PFA Player of the Year—voted for by all the players in the league at the start of March—is arranged too early and before the most important part of the season. (Has anyone informed the PFA about the instantaneous capabilities of email?) The rather perfunctory choice of Gareth Bale just last year was met with more than a murmur of skepticism.
For once, though, this argument is rendered utterly redundant. Robin van Persie has already earned the right to be named the season’s best.
You can talk up and garland the Dutch marksman with as much complimentary reverence as you please, but his vital statistics are impressive enough.
Bear in mind that Liverpool have scored 30 league goals collectively this season, and then consider that Van Persie has 25 on his own in 27 appearances (32 in 34 starts, plus three games as a sub, in all club competitions), from a total of 120 attempted shots.
In statspeak, with a goal every 4.8 shots, he’s just shy of one per game. And if his eight assists are anything to go by, he has played a major role in at least 33 of Arsenal’s 55 league goals. Former teammate Emmanuel Adebayor is closest to that combination with 22 (11 of each) for Spurs.
Who are the other contenders? Pundits had been falling over themselves to name David Silva (five goals, 12 assists) player of the season before anyone had even had the chance to moan about Christmas-time fixture congestion.Manchester City‘s expensively-assembled stars had been revolving around the imperious Spaniard as they logged up a catalogue of thrashings, but Silva’s been relatively quiet since New Year.
And, while it might be easy in everyday life to look better by standing next to an ugly person, it’s more straightforward in football to shine in a lineup that hogs all the talent. Not only is Silva surrounded by a supporting cast good enough to make City likely title winners, he also has the luxury of taking a little rest every now and then while one of umpteen bench warmers gets a turn to play instead.
Only Newcastle’s Demba Ba (16 goals, one assist) can rival Van Persie for the impact a player has had for a more modestly-built team this season. It’s easy to overstate clichés about single-handedly carrying a team, but these lethal strikers have contributed their fair share of points towards their respective clubs’ league tallies.
Others deserve consideration: Tottenham’s Scott Parker, Fulham’s Clint Dempsey,Sunderland’s Stephane Sessegnon and Swansea’s Joe Allen spring to mind. Wayne Rooney’s contribution for Manchester United, meanwhile, is possibly underestimated due to his own high standards, but his form has still been sketchy.
Opinions will always vary, but Van Persie surely clinches it. Arsenal are no one-man team but, with few options up front, they’ve certainly been reliant on the Dutchman for firepower. He’s consistently delivered the goods—scoring the goal of the season so far with a sensational volley against Everton, a brilliant hat trick at Stamford Bridge, and a winning brace at Anfield.
Spearheading the Arsenal attack, Van Persie has adapted his game from a deeper-lying role to become a complete striker. He’s even turned out to be a conscientious and respected captain during a testing period at Arsenal, preserving a zen-like focus amid gratuitous speculation regarding his future.
Not bad for a player whose reputation used to veer between impetuous hothead and injury prone liability.
