Goonersworld

Robin van Persie heading for the record books: How flying Dutchman could eclipse Premier League icons Thierry Henry & Alan Shearer

Gunners captain notched his 30th and 31st goals of 2011 on Saturday against Norwich City, leaving him among an elite group of players to have hit 30 goals in a calendar year

Fifa’s decision to omit Robin van Persie from the 2011 Ballon d’Or shortlist is looking increasingly foolish by the minute.

Arsenal’s inspirational captain led the way once again on Saturday as the Gunners recorded their fifth straight Premier League win, with a 2-1 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Not only was Van Persie responsible for both of Arsenal’s goals – his ninth and tenth in those five games – but once again he bagged the match winner. He has done so in each match of their current winning stretch.

The double took Van Persie beyond the 30-goal mark for the calendar year, making him only the fifth player in the history of the Premier League to achieve such a feat. Alan Shearer’s 36 goals in 1995 is the record high; the former England striker’s tally of 30 the previous year for Blackburn Rovers make him the only player to reach the landmark twice. it is worth noting, however, that until the 1995-96 season the Premiership then housed 22 teams in oppose to the current 20 club format.

Les Ferdinand (30 in 1995), fellow Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy (30 in 2003) and Gunners legend Thierry Henry (34 in 2004) make up the rest of the list.

With 31 goals, Van Persie has already jumped to third place in goals scored in a calendar year – behind only the Premier League’s all-time top scorer and arguably the greatest player in Arsenal history.

If you’re impressed by that, take a look at the date. It’s late November, and Arsenal have seven Premier League games left to play before the turn of the year. At his current goalscoring pace for the season (over a goal per game) Van Persie will overtake not only Henry, but also Shearer, and could come very, very close to hitting 40 in 2011.

The Dutchman’s achievements arguably already eclipse his predecessor Henry’s. Whereas the former Juventus man played in every league match in 2004 – 39 in total – Van Persie has recorded his 31 goals in just 29 appearances. If he was to play 39 matches like Henry, his current scoring rate would see him notch over 40 goals.

• Alan Shearer (1995) - 36
• Thierry Henry (2004) - 34
• Robin van Persie (2011) - 31

CynicalGooner wrote:That's great and all, but success is measured only in trophies.

Arsenal~Fanatic wrote:If averaging more than one goal per game is not going to win the player of the season then what else will.

Don't forget to add the number of assists too that RVP will have by the end of the season. A complete player

Massa wrote:FULHAM H
WIGAN A
EVERTON H
M CITY A
A VILLA A
WOLVES H
QPR H

Fixtures for the rest of the year.

Boxer wrote:Some say he should be rested for easy games

if he was rested against norwich (easy game) we would have lost

Massa wrote:FULHAM H
WIGAN A
EVERTON H
M CITY A
A VILLA A
WOLVES H
QPR H

Fixtures for the rest of the year.

SammyGunner11 wrote:

Massa wrote:FULHAM H
WIGAN A
EVERTON H
M CITY A
A VILLA A
WOLVES H
QPR H

Fixtures for the rest of the year.

I can see RVP scoring in the Fulham, QPR, and possibly the Villa game. I hope I don't jynx anything, but I see RVP getting four more goals max. before the year ends.

Est83 wrote:

SammyGunner11 wrote:

Massa wrote:FULHAM H
WIGAN A
EVERTON H
M CITY A
A VILLA A
WOLVES H
QPR H

Fixtures for the rest of the year.

I can see RVP scoring in the Fulham, QPR, and possibly the Villa game. I hope I don't jynx anything, but I see RVP getting four more goals max. before the year ends.

Not Wigan and Wolves then? I thought they would be a given.


Everton are usually tough to break down but they're not having a good season and I'm sure Robin has a good record against them.

Citeh, obviously no-one's expecting anything there but the man's a big game player and if anyone's gonna score there it'll be him.