Reviewing Goals Scored by 2012 PFA Player of the Year Robin van Persie

If you take a close peek at this illustration, you’ll see Arsenal’s talisman, Robin van Persie, holding the club’s “first trophy” in seven years, the 2012 PFA Player of the Year award. As expected, esteemed footballers, media vulture reps and fans alike graced the gala event.

Van Persie began his youth career in Excelsior before making a move to the club that gave him his football education, Feyenoord. In his three-year stint on Feyenoord’s first team from 2001 to 2004, van Persie won the UEFA Cup with the Dutch outfit, but he had a lot of irreconcilable differences with the manager and present Dutch coach, Bert van Marwijk.

He won the award for best young talent of the EreDivisie in 2002 and had a tumultuous time in the tail end of his Feyenoord career. After making 59 appearances and scoring 15 league goals in three years at the club, van Persie parted ways with Feyenoord and joined Arsenal as a long-term replacement for the great Dennis Bergkamp.

At Arsenal, van Persie made his debut against Manchester United in the Community Shield of 2004 and has been a loyal stalwart for the club ever since. Van Persie has had the pleasure of playing beside excellent forwards like Thierry Henry and Bergkamp, but the early seasons of his Arsenal career have been blighted by injuries.

With the exit of his predecessors, van Persie has stepped up to the plate to become the most important player for the Arsenal Football Club, and he has currently amassed a total of 129 goals in just 273 appearances for the club, with 93 of those goals scored in the Premier League.

On the international scene, van Persie has represented the Netherlands on four different levels, and he’s currently an essential piece of the Oranje jigsaw puzzle. It’s really funny to know that it's the same Bert van Marwijk who’s the present manager of the Netherlands, but they’ve put their differences aside for the good of the game.

The Flying Dutchman has been previously recognized for his football exploits with the EreDivisie Best Young Talent award (2002), Rotterdam Sportsman of the Year (2006), Euro 2008 Bronze Boot and Arsenal Player of the Season (2009).

However, his outstanding goalscoring run as well as his magnificent team efforts have earned him a place in Premier League history as 39th PFA Player of the Year, despite facing stiff competition from Manchester United’s goalscoring ogre, Shrek.

Van Persie’s 34 goals this season certainly played a major role in winning what John Terry considers as “the ultimate accolade to be voted for by your fellow professionals whom you play against week-in and week-out."

In a somewhat chronological order, I’m going to review each goal as we relive those moments that made the Arsenal faithful create the hit single, “He scores when he wants.“

Enjoy!

August

Goal ONE against Udinese at Friuli

Arsenal’s black-dreadlocked Harry Potter with the big forehead received the ball from a deflected Tomas Rosicky shot. He casted a few Expecto Patronum spells, and the Udinese players watched again as he waltzed past them. His final ball found van Persie, who took care of the rest with a neat left-footed finish.

Goal TWO against Manchester United at Old Trafford

Arsenal looked very demoralized, but there was still time for the Gunners to add to their count. Carl Jenkinson was free on the right, and he sent a cross into Manchester United’s box. Phil Jones headed it away, but the header came back to Jenkinson. Jenkinson then nodded it straight to the path of RVP, who smashed the roof with his effort.

September

Goal THREE against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park

With halftime looming around the corner, the deadlock was broken after Sven Bender lost the ball in midfield to van Persie. The ball got to Theo Walcott, then he sent a sumptuous through ball to van Persie. Arsenal’s captain picked his spot and finished with aplomb.

Goals FOUR and FIVE against Bolton at the Emirates

Arsenal went into a flyer at the start of the second half thanks to some decisive attacking play. Gervinho got the ball in midfield and made a run, but he was tackled by some bloke. But as Aaron Ramsey received the ball, referee Mark Clattenburg waved the play on instead of stopping play for an infringement.

Ramsey moved with the ball before setting up RVP on the edge of the box. He dallied a bit before creating a chance for himself to beat Jussi Jaaskelainen on his near post.

Ramsey sent another through ball to Walcott on the right-hand side, and the winger had acres of space to exploit. He raised his head up and found van Persie free, so he sent a well-weighted ball to Arsenal’s captain, who made the slightest of touches to score Arsenal’s second goal. That was also his 100^th for the club after six years of magnificent service.

October

Goal SIX and SEVEN against Sunderland at the Emirates

The start Arsenal made to the game rocked the tentacles of the Kraken, and Arsenal history was just eight seconds away from being rewritten. Shortly after kickoff, Tomas Rosicky fed Gervinho, who made a tricky run before passing the ball to van Persie.

The intelligent forward let the ball move across him before side-footing it home with his fabled chocolate leg. Arsenal was one up after 28 seconds. Gilberto Silva still holds the record for the fastest Arsenal goal in that 4-0 win over PSV in just 20 seconds, but RVP was not far off with this goal.

When it seemed as if all hope was lost and Arsenal was heading for another disappointing draw, Yossi Benayoun passed the ball to RVP, but the striker was impeded by the rugged Wes Brown. Like Seb Larsson in the first half, van Persie took his time and let out a few bursts of air before curling the ball over the wall to Simon Mignolet’s net.

Goals EIGHT and NINE against Stoke City at the Emirates

The Arsenal crowd awaited the 200^th goal at the Emirates, and it was only befitting that such a goal would be scored by the man of the moment, van Persie.

Gervinho was involved in the attacking play again, and he did well to evade the threat of Wilson before teeing van Persie in the near post, where the intelligent striker had a quick snap shot that beat Asmir Begovic in his near post.

With the game easing off, Gervinho popped up again on the left to send another assist for van Persie, whose effort couldn’t be stopped despite Begovic’s hand on the shot.

Goals 10, 11 and 12 against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge

Arsenal pegged the hosts back when Alex Song and Aaron Ramsey combined well before giving Gervinho a through ball. The Ivorian was one-on-one with Petr Cech, but he unselfishly fed van Persie, who wasted no time in dispatching the ball to an unguarded net.

Florent Malouda was crowded by an Arsenal midfield, so he decided to give a back pass to John Terry. Terry then decided to slip in the best possible time so the ball fell gracefully to the wrongest person on Earth in such a situation, van Persie. RVP ran at Cech before attempting a “Box and X” Playstation move on the goalie to place the ball to the empty net.

Juan Mata smashed the ball goalwards, but Laurent Koscielny put his body on fire to block the shot. Rosicky won the ball before feeding Song, who gave it to Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard moved with the ball before providing a ball to the red-hot van Persie, who rifled the ball past the hapless Cech.

November

Goal 13 against West Brom at the Emirates

Aaron Ramsey started a delightful move that saw Theo Walcott go clear of the defender marking him. Ben Foster made a good save from Walcott’s effort, but the ball sailed aimlessly to the wrong player, as van Persie scored his easiest goal in 2011 with a simple right-footed finish from less than six yards out.

Goals 14 and 15 against Norwich at Carrow Road

Arsenal’s breakthrough came when Walcott used his pace to evade his marker before drilling the ball into the heart of the defense to the awaiting predator van Persie, who finished off with consummate ease.

Van Persie scored what proved to be the winner when he chipped the ball over the goalie after receiving a carefully-weighted pass from Alex Song.

Goals 16 and 17 against Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates

Song invoked the spirit of Lionel Messi and single-handedly took on five or more defenders, showing quick feet before sending a cross that was headed home by van Persie.

Later on, the Dutchman showed amazing awareness, as he was the first player to get on the end of Thomas Vermaelen’s flick-on to make it 2-0 from point-blank range.

December

Goal 18 against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium

Van Persie put the icing on a well-baked cake when he converted Walcott’s pass, and he was quick to show his appreciation to a player who contributed immensely to his goal-scoring exploits in 2011. Walcott had a clear-cut chance to finish it himself, but he chose to give his captain.

Goal 19 against Everton at the Emirates

When the chips were down and it seemed like it was going to be one of those days for Arsenal, Laurent Koscielny picked the ball further up the pitch before feeding Alex Song. The Cameroonian gem looked up to see his captain before lofting a carefully-weighted ball that was executed magnificently by van Persie.

It was a goal that epitomized everything van Persie stood for in 2011: technique, precision and class.

Goal 20 against Aston Villa at Villa Park

Arsenal took the lead when Theo Walcott used his blistering pace to evade Clark, but the defender got a handful of the winger’s jersey, leaving the ref no choice but to point to the spot.

There was no guessing who the penalty taker would be, as van Persie stepped up to slam the spot kick home.

Goal 21 against Queens Park Rangers at the Emirates

Shaun Wright-Phillips was having a good time down the right, but he gifted Arsenal a goal when he handed a pass to the much-criticized Andrey Arshavin, that did well to tee up van Persie early enough for the Flying Dutchman to slot the ball home.

January

Goal 22 against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium

Arsenal went off to a flyer when Arshavin teed up the red-hot van Persie, who feinted a shot at first before lashing it past Michel Vorm in goal with just four minutes gone.

Goal 23 against Manchester United at the Emirates

Koscielny showed great determination to halt Rafael’s charge goalwards before launching a counterattack with a pinpoint pass to Rosicky. The Czech captain fed the Ox, who in turn gave a cushioned pass to van Persie. Van Persie hit it first time, and his drilled effort beat Anders Lindegaard to level the contest for the Gunners.

Goals 24 and 25 against Aston Villa at the Emirates

Ramsey atoned for an earlier miss when he has hacked down by Richard Dunne in the box. Up stepped van the Man to send goalkeeper Shay Given the wrong way.

Arsenal’s third goal and match clincher arrived when Laurent Koscielny made one of his slalom runs forward after a brilliant one-two with Alex Song. He was scythed down in the box by Darren Bent, leaving the man with the whistle no choice. Van Persie stepped up again to smash in goal number 25 for the season.

February

Goals 26, 27 and 28 against Blackburn at the Emirates

Arsenal got off to a flyer when the predator in the box van Persie got on the end of a Theo Walcott pass.

Arsenal restored the lead when Alex Song’s amazing through ball found Walcott, who fed van Persie again for another easy tap in. His third was in similar fashion.

Goal 29 against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates

Benoit Assou-Ekotto sent a panicky clearance that arrived at van Persie’s feet. Surrounded by Spuds, Arsenal’s talisman still managed to find some space before curling the ball sweetly past Brad Friedel.

March

Goals 30 and 31 against Liverpool at Anfield

Arsenal got their equalizer when Bacary Sagna floated a cross that was headed home by van Persie.

When it seemed like a draw was going to be the likeliest outcome, Songinho attempted a delicate chip that was finished in astonishing fashion by a truly magnificent player, van Persie.

Goal 32 against AC Milan at the Emirates

The Ox made another jinking run that caused more problems for the AC Milan defense, and he compounded their misery by winning a penalty. Robin van Persie stepped up to send goalkeeper Christian Abbiati the wrong way.

Goal 33 against Newcastle at the Emirates

Arsenal pegged Newcastle back when van Persie showed off his technical prowess to get an equalizer in timely fashion. Sagna and Rosicky were brilliant on the right-hand side before Walcott’s drilled cross arrived at van Persie’s feet. Arsenal’s captain guided the ball past Williamson before smashing his attempt past Tim Krul.

April

Goal 34 against Wolves at Molineux

Arsenal got off to a flyer when an incisive van Persie through ball put Theo Walcott through, but the winger was denied a clear-cut goalscoring chance by Sebastien Bassong. According to the FIFA rule book, the ref was left with only one decision to make, thereby giving Bassong a chance for an early bath.

Arsenal’s captain stepped up to score one of the cheekiest penalties you’ll ever see. Thierry Henry showed such class against Leeds United in the yesteryear.

****

I hope you’ve enjoyed the review.

With three games left to play in the season, van Persie has to be on his toes to get some more goals because Manchester United’s Shrek is breathing down his neck for the Golden Boot award.

However, the winner of the Golden Bench award has also been decided.

"I came here to win trophies"

Sayonara.

This article is also featured in Gooner Daily, Toni Okike's Arsenal blog