Robin Van Persie Makes 6-Player Shortlist for PFA Player of the Year

In news that will surprise no one, Arsenal forward Robin van Persie has been named to the six-player shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award.

The Dutchman joins Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Sergio Aguero, Joe Hart and David Silva (Manchester City). The winner will be announced Sunday.

Presented since the 1973-74 season, the award is granted to the player judged to have been "the best of the year in English football."

It last went to Tottenham's Gareth Bale in 2011. The last Arsenal player to win was Thierry Henry, who won two years in a row from 2002-04. Dennis Bergkamp won in 1997-98. Liam Brady is the only other player ever to win for Arsenal (1978-79).

With 27 league goals and 10 assists, Van Persie has emerged as the leading contender to win the coveted prize, although there have been clamors for Rooney, who now sits at 24 league goals after netting a brace against Aston Villa over the weekend.

It doesn't hurt his chances that Manchester United currently sit comfortably in first place in the league standings, either.

Van Persie isn't the only Arsenal player with a chance at an award this season. Eighteen-year-old winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was named to the PFA Young Player of the Year shortlist alongside Gareth Bale and Kyle Walker (Tottenham), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Aguero and Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).

Oxlade-Chamberlain has appeared 13 times in the league for the Gunners (five starts), scoring two goals and providing one assist. He was widely regarded as one of Arsenal's best players during the first months of the year.