Arsenal striker Robin van Persie fell short of Alan Shearer’s record of 36 goals in a calendar year by one goal and I am sure that the Dutchman is feeling gutted with the manner in which he failed to convert his chances on New Year’s day. However, van Persie will be delighted to know that he has a far superior goals per game ratio than the former England great as well as Thierry Henry who managed 34 goals at the same time.
Shearer set a fantastic tally when he scored a mammoth 36 goals in 42 matches while Thierry Henry came close with 34 off 39 games. Their respective goals per game ratios stand at 0.86 and 0.87 respectively. Van Persie, on the other hand has scored 35 goals in 36 games at a phenomenal 0.97 goals every game.
The man joined the gunners around six years ago from Dutch side Feyenoord, however, he was extremely unlucky with injuries and could never really contribute as much as he would have liked to.
But, the past year treated him well as he was never really troubled by injuries and went on to record 35 goals in 36 games for Arsenal – a period when Arsene Wenger entrusted him with the captain’s armband following the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona. And boy he has led the team like a true leader who leads by example.
A stuttering start to the season in which Arsenal were hovering near the bottom of the table after 7 rounds of matches had been played, which included an unprecedented 8-2 thumping at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford, this man rose from the ashes and has taken Arsenal to fourth place in the Premier League standings on New Year’s eve – 2 points above Chelsea and 3 below Spurs, who have a game in hand.
Robin van Persie has been Arsenal’s stand out performer so far this season and there is no reason for him to take a break from scoring at the turn of the year.
Pundits of the stature of Paul Parker and Steve McMahon have hinted that if this man continues firing in the manner that he has been all season, Arsenal have a outside chance to win the league this season. It’s still just halfway into the season and there will be plenty of occasions in which Arsenal can close that 9 point gap on the Manchester clubs.
Although, it seems a tall order, this is football and anything can happen!