11. Robin van Persie

At long last, English football has seen the undoubted talent of a fit-and-firing Robin Van Persie.
 
Too often the Dutchman has seen promising form - and an unerring ability to find the net - compromised by injury problems. However, during 2008/09 Robin managed to stay relatively injury-free.
 
Unsurprisingly he managed more appearances than in any of his other four years with the Gunners and his tally of 20 goals, coming in just 38 starts, was seven more than his previous season’s best. But, despite those impressive stats, this is no regular centre-forward. When on top form, Robin combines the guile and vision as a deep-lying striker, with a natural stealth inside the area.
 
This was no more apparent than in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in November.  With an hour on the clock, the Gunners were trailing to Johan Djourou’s own-goal. But, within 120 seconds, Van Persie had turned the game on its head. First he rifled a stunning right-foot effort into the top corner from 15 yards before securing three points with a swiveling finish.
 
And it was no flash in the pan. In fact, the Dutchman scored or created every Arsenal goal in January 2009 and eventually finished the season as the Gunners’ top scorer.
 
It was no surprise that the fans voted him Arsenal’s Player of the Season and, with a new long-term contract penned during the summer, the foundations have been laid for even more in 2009/10.

 

MY YEAR

September

Robin scored two goals in four appearances in September. The Dutchman scored Arsenal's equaliser in the 4-2 defeat at Manchester City and tapped in the Gunners' opening goal of their 2-0 win against Olympiacos. The Arsenal striker was the man who delivered the corner from which Thomas Vermaelen scored the first goal of a 4-0 home victory over Wigan. He missed the Champions League trip to Standard Liege with a knee problem.

August

Robin started all three of Arsenal's opening Premier League fixtures, and though he didn't score a goal of his own, the Dutchman did manage three assists. Van Persie provided the free kick from which Thomas Vermaelen scored his first Gunners' goal as Arsenal went 2-0 up at Everton, and Robin played the final pass in a good move that was completed by Cesc Fabregas for the visitors' fourth goal of the game.His third assist of the month came with a well-timed through ball as Aaron Ramsey concluded Arsenal's 4-1 home win over Portsmouth.

May

Robin started four of May’s five fixtures and ended a strong season in tremendous fashion. The Dutchman opened his month’s account with the consolation penalty in Arsenal’s Champions League Semi-Final second-leg defeat against Man United but was at his very best on the season’s final day. The Gunners were already 1-0 in front when he bagged his first from the spot in the 16th minute. Then, less than two minutes later, his pin-point cross was nodded home by Abou Diaby. Van Persie then emphatically added Arsenal’s fourth four minutes before the break. It was inspirational stuff from the striker.

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