Arsenal: Top 5 Robin van Persie Goals For the Gunners

Where to begin when writing about the Dutch mastermind with the sumptuous left foot?

There are the bags of goals he's put in for Arsenal since his arrival in 2004 as a talented but troubled youngster from Feyenoord.

There are the injuries; too numerous to count, that at one point seemed destined to taint his legacy with that infuriating notion of "what if...".

There's the loyalty. Van Persie is now the longest-tenured first-teamer in the club, a man who has seen colleagues leave through what must have seemed a revolving door at times.

He's received his fair share of rumored moves as well. How could he not, when he's that talented.

But through it all, he has remained steadfast in his station within the club, and has risen to become team captain, an honor he fully deserves.

The match against Bolton Wanderers Saturday seemed a perfect culmination of his time in Ashburton Grove.

The second part of his opponent's name (Wanderer) would once have provided a fairly accurate description of van Persie's first years with the club. His tumultuous temper often threatened to supersede his technique, which was considerable.

The on-field incident with Bolton midfielder Darren Pratley perfectly indicated his personal transformation.

Pratley, a former Arsenal youth product himself, was furious with the Dutchman for allowing Arsenal to play on when a Bolton player was hurt. (It must be said that Bolton charged on a counterattack of their own while their man was down instead of kicking the ball out of play).

Where once we would have expected van Persie's risible anger to overcome his senses (that red card at Stoke in 2008 jumps to mind), we instead saw a calmer, more composed No. 10, walking away from the argument.

It hearkened images of another famous Dutch No. 10 for Arsenal, a man as cool, composed, and technically endowed as the current edition on hand.

Van Persie has become a man during these past seven years. He is now a husband and a father.

He brings to the pitch the same dedication and sense of purpose that once saw him work as a youth in Holland for hours on end. So determined was he, to develop a left leg that would become the envy of all others.

You might say that, at 28 years of age, he's succeeded.

In celebrating van Persie's 100th goal for Arsenal, a true striker's poaching effort in front of goal, we now look back on his career, and five of his greatest strikes.

Van Persie vs. Blackburn, 2005.

Positively Winning Eleven 9-esque in its individual brilliance, van Persie showed what all the hype was about in this singular effort of youth-filled bravado.

The composure to keep the ball in play at the far sideline, coupled with an intrepid desire to take on two Blackburn defenders ended in van Persie pushing past both before shooting a glance at goal after entering the penalty area.

The tight angle available to him mattered little. Instinct in the form of his left boot took over, and he delivered one of the more sensational strikes I've ever seen from an Arsenal player.

Van Persie vs. Charlton, 2006.

It's easy to forget when watching this strike (which I've done quite often over the years) just how ridiculously difficult this volley was.

The technique required is no small feat—but van Persie latched onto this Emmanuel Eboue cross as if he were simply delivering a left-footed pass.

He was cool, calm, and collected—an absolute contrast to the end product, which saw the Nike ball rocket violently into the top corner of the net as if shot from a cannon.

Van Persie vs. Sunderland, 2007

There are a multitude of free kick wonder-goals to choose from van Persie's personal library.

Most are more aesthetically pleasing, showcasing that near-singular quality of van Persie's wrapping his left boot around the ball.

He produces an ensuing blend of unprecedented spin and verve that most often ends up in a top corner of the net, with a helpless keeper looking shell-shocked.

Yet the sheer power of this strike has never left my mind. There are few who could pack a similar punch.

Van Persie vs. Barcelona, 2011

His first goal against Bolton yesterday must have stirred memories of this unforgettable strike for Arsenal fans.

The angle was acute, the requisite technique considerable. But we forget that van Persie has made a living off near-unfathomable jests with his left boot.

He needed but a glance up to gauge his effort after collecting Gael Clichy's pass, and he proceeded to deliver one of the most goosebump-inducing strikes I've ever had the pleasure to witness.

Van Persie vs. Bolton, 2011.

The goal itself was simply another standard practice of movement and timing that van Persie has mastered during his time in North London.

It wasn't the greatest goal he's ever scored, but it was befitting of his maturity as a player.

He has grown into a true center forward of world class since 2004. He wouldn't have reached 100 goals if he had not.