Robin van Persie is certainly going through a purple patch over the past seven weeks in which he has scored 10 goals in his last six Premier League appearances for Arsenal. But the truth is this amazing run of form started on the very first afternoon of 2011.
The Dutchman played an important role in helping the Netherlands reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. When he returned to his club, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger decided to give his star player a much-needed rest at the start of the new season.
This rest and an injury to his ankle ensured Van Persie would make just one full appearance, a Champions League game against Partizan Belgrade, by the end of December.
With the start of a new year, the Gunners’ number 10 burst onto the stage with a goal against Birmingham. He went on to score his first career hat-trick against Wigan Athletic later in the month. It was the beginning of an incredible run to the end of the season.
In reference to his hat-trick, he said: “If I am really honest, I was starting to think: ‘Why can I not score a hat-trick?’ I had come so close so many times. I’d score two goals and then I hit the bar or the post. I was unlucky.
“It means a lot because I’ve been here a long time. It was about time!”
The 28-year-old equalled the Premier League record for goals scored between 1 January and the end of the season when he netted 18 times in 19 games, thus adding his name alongside such stars as Thierry Henry and Christiano Ronaldo. It’s a record he could have broken if he were not rested as a precaution for two of those games because of a slight hamstring problem.
During this period, however, the ‘Flying Dutchman’ did manage to break a record when scoring in all of Arsenal’s away games – that’s nine consecutive matches.
The left-footer has continued this good form into the current campaign with 11 goals in as many Premier League appearances. Netting a few of these with his right foot has helped to silence critics who have judged him to be a one-footed player.
The striker famously said: “I think you will miss many more chances with your chocolate leg if you think negatively, thinking that it’s not your strong foot.”
Add the end of last season with the start to this campaign, and the Oranje player has scored an incredible 29 goals in just 30 Premier League appearances.
Unfortunately for Van Persie, he has been plagued with injuries in the past. Among these were a broken toe against Cardiff City, and he also broke his metatarsal in his right-foot when scoring a goal against Manchester United.
The worst of all came in November 2009 in a ‘friendly’ international against Italy. A crunching tackle by Giorgio Chiellini ruptured ligaments in his ankle, leaving him sidelined for five months and ultimately ending his season.
Similar to now, Van Persie had just started the Premier League campaign in fine form with eight goals in nine appearances before the challenge.
Now in his eighth season at the London club, the former Feyenoord player’s injury-free run will be crucial to Arsenal’s hopes this season.
