Arsenal Christmas: Celebrating All of Van Persie's 44 Goals of 2011

It's a season of celebration and appreciation, so what better way to celebrate for Gooners than to reminisce upon Robin Van Persie's 44 goals of the 2011 calendar year?

But even if you're not a Gooner, you can surely enjoy the goals yourself. There's a lot to like and savor.

It has been a record-equaling season for Van Persie, who is now on par with Thierry Henry's club record 34 Premier League goals. Two more and he matches the Premier League's all-time record of 36, held by Alan Shearer. Three more, of course, means he sets a new record of 37.

What better Christmas present can one give the Dutchman, therefore, than to wish that his free-scoring form continues in the year's last two games? It'll be one more good news for both club and player—one I'm sure his teammates would savor as well, since goals are a result of collective effort.

Let's take time then to recall and celebrate Van Persie's 44 goals (including the record-equaling 34) even as we hope for more in the last couple of games.

Goal Rain Begins at Birmingham, That's Goal No. 1

January 1, 2011. New Year's Day.

Arsenal win 3-0 away at Birmingham, and Van Persie is on target with a deflected free kick in the 13th minute.

The next two come via Nasri and a Birmingham own goal. It's the promising start to the year that the club needs.

Here's how The Guardian described the match:

"

This ground has been a graveyard for the Premier League's top clubs over the past few years but Arsenal made it look like a playground. Arsène Wenger and his players have suffered more than their fair share of torment at St Andrew's but this emphatic victory will go some way to erasing those painful memories as well as providing answers to any lingering questions about the strength of their title challenge.

"

Notice how everybody thought the team was strong enough for the title challenge.

Watch the goals here.

Van Persie Grabs 2 at West Ham

Van Persie scores the second and third of the year away at West Ham to continue both his and the team's fine form in the new year.

Mirror Football was full of praise.

"

Arsenal were sensational to watch as they produced the perfect response to two poor performances, against Leeds in the FA Cup and at Ipswich in the Carling Cup semi-final.

Walcott said: “It was not the Arsenal we know in the last couple of games. No disrespect to Leeds and Ipswich, but we should be getting better results.”

He started the rout on Saturday when his cross was dummied by Nasri and van Persie pounced to score his 50th league goal for Arsenal. Van Persie returned the favour as the Dutch striker set up Walcott in the 42nd minute after clanger by West Ham debutant Bridge.

Van Persie completed the win in the 76th minute after Walcott was brought down by Bridge. It compounded an awful day for Grant and the West Ham boss threw his claret and blue scarf into the crowd at the final whistle.

"

Watch the highlights here. Two things stand out: Theo Walcott as the No. 1 assist provider at Arsenal, and Van Persie's nag for hitting the post, which has largely been forgotten since he started scoring regularly.

What's Good for the Leg Is Good for the Head, Goal No. 4

January 3rd

Van Persie, alongside Bacary Sagna and Samir Nasri, scored at Leeds United to save Arsenal the blushes of defeat at the hand of the Championship side, Leeds United, who had taken a 1-0 lead at the Emirates to give them the advantage in the FA cup tie.

Nasri had given the Gunners an early lead—a lead Sagna would double at the 35th minute, but after Leeds deflated the joy and hope of qualification for the next round with a goal of their own, via Bradley Johnson, three minutes after Sagna had scored, Van Persie was introduced into the fray in the 71st minute.

Five minutes later, he latched on to a Nicklas Bendtner cross from the right flank to redirect and bury the ball into far right corner of the net.

Arsenal survived the blushes of defeat. Enjoy the goal here.

Hat-Trick Against Wigan in January, That's 7

Robin Van Persie scores the next three of his 44 goal against Wigan on January 22 at the Emirates. It is his first premier league hat trick. He told the press afterwards what it meant to him.

"

It means a lot because I’ve been here a long time. It was about time. I had come so close; so many times I’d scored two goals and then I hit the bar or the post and I was unlucky.

"

This though wasn't his first hat trick ever. He explains:

"

I scored five goals when I was 19 for Feyenoord in the Dutch FA Cup against an amateur side. But that doesn't really count so this was my first hat-trick.

"

As to what was going through his mind when the hat trick looked like it'll not come, he said:

"

If I'm really honest, I was starting to think, ‘Why can I not score a hat-trick?’ 

I'd come so close and then hit the woodwork. Last week it happened again, funnily enough, against West Ham when I scored two goals and then hit the post.

So I started to sort of accept it a little bit and that's when you score one. It's really funny. I just thought: 'You know what? I'm just never going to score a hat-trick. I'll just score two goals.'"

"

But even at this beginning stage of what would become an amazing goal count, he was quick to acknowledge the contribution of his teammates in making the goals possible.

"

I think it was Alex [Song] who had the pass and Cesc [Fabregas] had a little run to make space for me. I just hit it and scored.

"What I'm trying to say is that it's not just me who 'scored'. It's like a team effort. You have the one with the assist, the one before the assist and the one who scores and in-between you have the guy who's making the run for me.

If you look at the second goal it's mainly because of Cesc. It was a good finish, yes, but that was the only thing I could do. He has the vision, he has the technique and he can actually do it, so that goes to him for 80 per cent.

"

Gooners had no idea, then, what a great year of goals it was going to be.

Here are the three goals.

Infamous Collapse but 2 More Goals, That's 9

February 5th

Arsenal are away at Newcastle and begin the match brilliantly with goals from Walcott, Johan Djourou and two from Van Persie in the first 26 minutes.

Fast forward to the second half and the Joey Barton factor kicks in and gets Abou Diaby dismissed. This is the cue for Arsenal to collapse, albeit with some help from referee Phil Dowd, who awards two dodgy penalties to Newcastle.

This match is the beginning of Arsenal collapse after a run of results that promised a lot.

But let's remain with the goals. That's nine for the year.

2 More Against the Wolves, That's 11

February 12th

Arsenal brush aside their disappointing four-all draw at Newcastle with a two-nil victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Van Persie is on hand to score the goals.

The first is a brilliant scissors kick, the second a fiery short into the heart of the net after an unselfish assist from Theo Walcott. (Somehow Walcott's name manages to crop up in connection with Van Persie's goals.)

The nightmare at Newcastle seems to be forgotten. Mick McCarthy is full of nothing but admiration for Arsenal.

"

They murdered us. From one to 11 they were better than us, stronger than us and quicker than us.

I have to admire their class and the way they play. And for us to get better we have to admit we got turned over - we were completely spanked.

"

Admire the class here, yourself.

After the match, Van Persie promised more goal.

Equalizer Against FC Barcelona in the CL Match at the Emirates, That's a Dozen

February 16th

The Emirates.

Barcelona are winning the Champions League encounter against Arsenal, having taken a first-half lead through David Villa.

But then in the 77th minute, Andre Arshavin runs at the Barcelona defense on the left flank, having been blocked from progressing any further. He's forced to make a pass backwards to Gaël Clichy, who chips a delicious ball over the Barcelona defense line to Van Persie who lurks within the same line.

Facing goal-ward, he has the advantage over Barcelona defenders who have to turn to keep up, but Van Persie advances towards Victor Valdes' right near post, takes a shot that surprises and beats the stranded keeper. That's Van Persie's 12th of the year.

Arsenal are level. The Emirates go wild. Van Persie runs to his manager and hugs him. Joy all around.

Arsenal go on to win the match through Arshavin's late strike.

Watch it here.

Volley Against Birmingham in the Disastrous Carling Cup Final, That's 13

Van Persie caps a fantastic move by Arsenal to score the equalizer after Birmingham City had taken a shock lead against the heavily fancied Arsenal in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.

As in the previous goal, Arshavin is again involved. Van Persie hurts himself, though, in the process of scoring.

He would be out for a few weeks, but at that moment, it seemed the goal was worth the effort, even if the injury was unfortunate. 

The equalizer would turn out to be of no use since Birmingham went on to upset Arsenal in the last minute of the game.

But that's goal No. 13.

Watch it here.

Arsenal Leave It Late at Albion to Salvage a Point, 14th for Van Persie

Match 19

Flat-footed defending and a nightmare, called Almunia, was on hand in this match to make sure Arsenal lost.

Here's BBC's post-match report:

"

Arsenal overturned a two-goal deficit but could only earn a point as their Premier League title aspirations were dented at struggling West Brom.

Steven Reid put the hosts in front with a header from Chris Brunt's corner.Robin van Persie nodded against the bar before a horrendous mix-up between Manuel Almunia and Sebastien Squillaci gave Peter Odemwingie a simple finish.

Andrey Arshavin pulled one back with a superb strike before Robin van Persie forced the ball home to equalise.The Gunners were encamped in West Brom territory late on but could not complete the comeback and were ultimately left to rue Almunia's awful mistake.

"

Here are the goals.

A Goal and an Assist at Blackpool, That's 15

After Wojciech Szczęsny's freak injury in the Champions League return match at the Camp Nou and Almunia's nightmarish show at Westbrom, his subsequent injury at the warmup before the Blackpool match, mad Jens Lehman is called upon to patch things up at the back.

But, he nearly gets himself sent off through an ill-timed tackle inside the Arsenal penalty area—a tackle reminiscent of his lunge at Samuel Eto'o at the 2006 Champions League Final, which earned him a red card and reduced Arsenal to 10 men.

What saved him and Arsenal in this match was the fact that Blackpool went on to score from this attack. But it was a goal Arsenal conceded through their usual sloppy defense.

Not to worry, however. Arsenal had the match under control from the word go, through a Diaby tap in from a Van Persie assist, and through a fierce drive from Emmanuel Eboue for the second.

Blackpool's goal was an attempt at a comeback, but there was no chance at that after Van Persie scored the Gunner's third of the match and his 15th of the year to seal victory on the day for the team.

Again, it was Walcott who was on hand to supply the assist. Watch.

No Victory over Liverpool Despite a Van Persie Late Goal

April 17th

Van Persie slotted the ball into the far right corner of the Liverpool goal from the penalty spot at the Emirates to score what he thought was a late winner for the Gunners, seven minutes into added time. It was an initial five minutes of added time.

But, no complaints if you were a Gooner since the extra two minutes brought a goal.

What was surprising though was that referee Andre Marriner found another five minutes to add to the extra two he had added to the extra five! It was enough for Liverpool to cook up for themselves a penalty kick.

The draw practically ended Arsenal's title hopes.

This was Van Persie's 16th goal of the year.

Arsenal Slumps at Spurs, but Van Persie Scores, That's 17

April 20th

Van Persie scored the 17th of the 44 in the three-all draw at Spurs. This is the period where Arsenal surrendered a strong position on the table in the challenge for the 2010-2011 Premiership title.

They squandered a two-goal advantage in this match to slid from second on the table to third.

For neutrals, it was a delightful match to watch, but for Gooners, this continued the inexplicable brittleness that had overtaken the team at the time.

Watch the match summary and Van Persie's goal here.

A Van Persie Goal Cannot Salvage Arsenal's Title Hopes

Arsenal's inexplicable loss of form continued away at Bolton Wanderers.

They lost 1-2 via a last minute header by Tamir Cohen who came on in the 84th minute. Van Persie had equalized for Arsenal in the 48th minute after Bolton has taken the lead in the first half through Daniel Sturridge.

This goal is Van Persie's 18th of the season, but the loss meant Arsenal's title hopes are over. Here's how the BBC put it.

"

The Gunners were below par in the first half and trailed at half-time to Daniel Sturridge's header following a corner.

Early in the second half, Wojciech Szczesny saved a Kevin Davies penalty and a minute later Robin van Persie slotted in an equaliser for Arsenal.

The visitors had enough chances to win the match but were left shocked by Tamir Cohen's poignant late header.

"

Raggedy at Stoke but Van Persie's 19th

Arsenal are all over the place defensively in the loss away to Stoke City. The slump in form continues.

Van Persie score to pull one back for Arsenal after the hosts go ahead by two goals. There's no comeback for Arsenal, however, as, instead, it's Stoke City who score their third, after another shambolic defensive display by Arsenal. 

But let's stick with the goals.

See the 19th of the 44 here.

A Shock Loss at Home Despite Another Goal from the Dutch Master

Van Persie scored his 20th, but the home side is booed off the pitch in this home loss to Aston Villa. This match was a testimony of a season gone awry after much promise.

Fox Sports reports:

"

Many fans had left well before the final whistle when the boos started, then some who stayed made their feelings clear during what should have been a lap of appreciation from Arsene Wenger's team.

The Gunners had pulled a goal back through Robin van Persie but defeat opens the door for Manchester City to finish above them, with fourth place bringing with it a tricky Champions League qualifier in pre-season, and the home supporters were far from happy with the latest defeat in a miserable second half of the campaign.

"

The first of Villa's goals was from an offside, but it didn't matter. This was a team with a deflated spirit and Gooners let them have it.

Here are the goals and Van Persie's 20th.

21 at Fulham Proves Just Short of Salvation

May 22nd

Robin Van Persie scores in the final match of the season but cannot help Arsenal from slipping to fourth on the table behind Manchester City.

Fulham had taken the lead, after which Van Persie netted the equalizer following Abou Diaby's delightul through-pass.

Arsenal defense is all over the place here, but Van Persie remains focused as his good run of goal-scoring form continues.

Wenger's remarks at the end of the match are worthy of revisiting as they are an insightful preface to the summer escapade that is to follow.

"

It was an average game and in the end we felt the disappointment with fourth place because three weeks ago we were in the position to win the league.

Of course we didn't lose our top-three place today, we lost it last week [with the 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa] and that is why in the end we have to go through a qualifier.

We are frustrated, disappointed, but as well we have not to go overboard and think that our team is not good.

We have to rectify some things in our squad and we will try to do it but it's not easy, even with money.

Even if people say you have to spend money, we have to be realistic. We can't buy players for £50m. That is a fact. The amount of money is not always linked with the quality of player.

First you have to find the right players and then turn up with the money - but if we find the right players we will spend the money.

"

View the match highlights and the Van Persie goal here.

Goals 22nd to 24th Come During Preseason

The next three goals are scored during preseason.

Arsenal are not convincing in these matches, but as it's preseason, no one is really worried. The only worry is that no transfer signing is being made, but let's stick with the goals.

Here's the 20-second against Boca Juniors. July 30th.

And the 23 in the draw with the New York Red Bulls. July 31st.

The 24 is against Benfica. August 6th.

Goal-Scoring Form Resumes When Season Returns, That's the 25th

August 24th and Arsenal's Champions League hopes hang by a thread after Antonio Di Natale cancels out Arsenal's first-leg goal advantage to give hosts Udinese a chance at upsetting Arsenal for the Champions League spot.

The hosts need just one more goal to knock out the visitors, but Van Persie, again, comes through for Arsenal and equalizes for the team, after good work by Gervinho on the left flank. Now, the hosts must score twice to claim the coveted spot.

Suddenly, the opportunity comes. Thomas Vermaelen handles the ball in the penalty area. The referee points to the spot and Di Natale promptly steps up. Arsenal's fate is in the hand of Wojciech Szczesny their goalkeeper. 

Di Natale runs toward the ball and takes a high-lofted ball, aimed for the roof of the net. Szczesny gets a hand to the ball and scoops it over the roof of the goal. Arsenal's advantage remains intact, and when Theo Walcott scores the second of the day for Arsenal for an aggregate of 1-3 for the Londoners, Udinese's hope is crushed.

Arsenal return to England to enjoy a shower of praise from the press. The glimmer of hope that is lighted here, though, after weeks of bad news for the club, is soon to be snuffed out. 

For now, enjoy the highlights and the analysis of the goals here.

A Goal Despite Humiliation at Old Trafford

August 28th

This is the match every Gooner fain would forget. You see how my language regresses in time?

Wenger, having never heard that you can't win anything with kids, fields boys against Manchester United.

He holds his head in the rain as a result. Matchettes are sharpened in North London by angry Gooners who want a little piece of the French man.

Noteworthy though is the fact that while Manchester United went about demolishing the Gunners with pomp and fireworks, Van Persie and Walcott set about repairing the damage.

They only manage a goal each; the damage is done. Plus, Van Persie misses a penalty, and Carl Jenkinson sees red.

Here are the highlights.

Please, don't bite your lip too hard. This is the 26th goal.

27th Is Away at Dortmund

Tuesday, September 13th

Arsenal's first Champions League match is away at Borussia Dortmund. The Arsenal defense is torn apart in the first 15 minutes, but Arsenal survive and take the lead just before halftime, through—who else but—Van Persie. 

The Gunners then proceed to play a defensive match and are only unlucky not to take the full three points, being undone by Ivan Perisic's 88th-minute equalizer.

Enjoy Van Persie's 27th goal here.

The Dutchman Scores the 28th and the 100th Against Bolton

September 24th

Van Persie scores two goals against Bolton in a three-nil win at home for Arsenal.

This lifts the total to 29 for the year. But a more important record is created here. The second goal is Van Persie's 100th for the club and makes him the 17th player to score 100 goals for the club.

Van Persie reacts to the landmark goal here. Watch the goals here.

The first is reminiscent of the Barcelona Champions League goal.

The 30th and 31st Are Against Sunderland

Van Persie scored in the first and 83rd minute of this difficult match to lift his total of the year to 31 and hand the Gunners a much-needed victory against resilient Sunderland.

The second is a delicious free kick, a fitting reply to Sebastian Larsson's, which threatened to hand Sunderland a draw at the Emirates. 

The chorus about a one-man team intensifies after this. Although there's no such thing, one might ask that, in this case, what does that make Real Madrid and Barcelona or even Manchester United?

Here are the goals.

To the Rescue Against Stoke City: The 32nd and 33rd

Wenger decides to rest Van Persie for this one but is forced to play him in the second half, and Van Persie scores two to give Arsenal a 3-1 victory.

The tally now is 33.

Enjoy the goals here.

A Hat Trick at Chelsea Takes the Tally to 36

October 29th

Van Persie scores his second hat trick for Arsenal in the 5-3 upset of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to send Arsenal fans to the euphoric if metaphorical seventh heaven. I have culled extensively from my summary of that game. It saves me the trouble of describing the amazing match. The first line is adjusted slightly to make it fit the present context.

"

Chelsea took the lead at the twilight of the first quarter of the game (the 14th minute), through a Frank Lampard stooping header from a Juan Mata cross.

Per Metersacker was guilty of bad positioning in the buildup to the goal, when Mata’s searching and angling ball arched over him and found Lampard instead, who redirected it into the Arsenal goal, with Wojciech Szczesny, the Arsenal goalkeeper, well beaten.  

The horrible defending by both sides ensured Arsenal would draw level on the 36th minute via a combined work by Gervinho and Van Persie—both atoning for their earlier misses—after a delicious slicing ball from Ramsey took out  Chelsea’s central defenders, Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry, and put through Gervinho.

When the onrushing Petr Cech managed to narrow the scoring angle for Gervinho, the latter took out the sprawling goalkeeper with an unselfish pass to Van Persie to the left, who slotted the ball into the empty goal.

But Arsenal’s wonted defensive fragility ensured they would go into the break a goal down. Per Metersacker was again the guilty party after allowing John Terry to bundle  the ball home from a Chelsea corner on the final minute of the half.

The only comfort Arsenal would have had returning to the dressing room for the break was the fact that Chelsea’s defending had been as equally pathetic as theirs.  For Arsenal fans watching the match, though,  the old symptoms looked to have returned with vengeance, and the corner that Arsenal were supposed to turn in this match still appeared very much far off.

At resumption from break, Arsenal showed a noticeable collective improvement, with the team compensating impressively for individual errors. Indeed, Arsenal were the better team in the entire half, and the two goals within six minutes were not the only proof of the visitors’ improvement.

Collective defending and overall superior passing and possession meant that Arsenal were relatively, if not firmly, in control of the match.  Indeed, their control of the midfield looked to put them on course to cruising to a 3-2 victory over their host.

There was a scare, though, at the 50th minute, when Szczesny recklessly tackled Ashley Cole, who looked to be through on goal. The referee, however, deemed the offense worthy only of  a yellow card.  It was apparent Laurent Koscielny had the goal covered, with Szczesny therefore not the last line of defense—a fact that would have resulted in a red card.

On 80th minute, though, referee Andre Marriner, failed to penalize Romelu Lukaku’s foul on Andre Santos.  This allowed Juan Mata to collect the resultant loose ball and fire into the top right corner of Arsenal goal; the diving Szczesny could only watch as it curled home.

With things back level, and with 10 minutes left on the clock, it looked like Arsenal were headed to another collapse at the dying minutes of another match.

But within five minutes of Chelsea’s equalizer, Arsenal took the lead again, when a terrible back pass from Florent Malouda and an equally horrible mistake from John Terry—who seemed to slip and fall—put Robin Van Persie through on goal.  Petr Cech remained the only obstacle between the striker and and goal. He quickly rounded helpless keeper, then coolly slotted the ball home.

Arsenal’s travelling fans went wild. The tonic, though, was yet to come.

Winning the ball off a Chelsea attack deep in their own half, Arsenal counter attacked through Tomas Rosicky, who had come on for the impressive Theo Walcott.

Having waited for the right moment to pick his pass, Rosicky sent the ball wide to Van Persie on the left. The latter took a few touches to narrow the angle then let loose a fierce shot towards the Chelsea goal, which Petr Cech could only redirect into the top right corner of his own net.

This was deep into added time, and there was no way back for Chelsea at that point. 

"

Relive the amazing moment here.

The 37th of the Year

Van Persie scores one and makes two assists in this three-nil routing of Westbrom at the Emirates. This is the 37th.

Watch the highlights.

On Song Against Norwich City to Make the Tally 39

November 29th

Van Persie scores the 38th and the 39th goals of the year to give the Gunner's a 2-1 victory over Norwich City.

It was a match in which Arsenal created chances after chances, but the goals stubbornly refused to come. 

Predictably, when the goals came, they did through Arsenal's mercurial captain.

Enjoy the goals.

2 Against Dortmund Made It 41

Arsenal played with great intelligence in this match to get a deserved win against a well-organized and attack-minded Dortmund.

Once again, Van Persie rises to the occasion to help the Gunners toward a spot in the knock-out stage of the Champions League.

His tally is 41 for the year.

Watch the highlights here.

Van Persie Scored His 42nd at Wigan

Van Persie creates two assists and scores one himself from an unselfish lay off by Theo Walcott in this four-nil routing of Wigan Athletic.

This takes his tally for the season to 42.

Here are the goals.

Everton Prove Stubborn at the Emirates but Van Persie Comes Through

Frustration abounds in the match against Everton at the Emirates on Arsenal's 125th Aniversary, but Van Persie scored a Flying Dutchman of a goal to raise his tally to 43.

It comes from a sublime past from Alex Song, out from midfield. 

Nerves are calmed. Festivities resume. "It is an artist goal," says Wenger.

What else do you expect from the son of an artist?

The 44th Is Against Aston Villa

Van Persie steps to the spot to score his 44th of the year after Theo Walcott is fouled in Aston Villa's penalty area. 

Van Persie's well-taken penalty is buried high in the roof of the net.

It's a disjointed display by the Gunners, but no matter, they dig in to get the win through an additional goal by Yossi Benayoun after Marc Albrighton had equalized for Villa in the 54th minute. 

Conclusion

The 44 goals are from matches in all competitions including preseason.

To get the record-equaling 34 goals, take out the three from preseason, the five from the Champions League, the one in the Carling Cup Final and the one in the FA cup against Leeds.

Again let's hope that Van Persie gets the record-breaking goals.

I can't think of a better Christmas wish for the Flying Dutchman, so here's wishing that he scores three more goals this year.