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.
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This is how he stands as of now, with over a month to go:
- Alan Shearer (1995) - 36
- Thierry Henry (2004) - 34
- Robin van Persie (2011) - 31