11. Robin van Persie

If Arsène Wenger was granted one wish before the start of this season, he might well have asked for a fit and firing Robin van Persie.

A broken metarsal, knee ligament problems and a persistent thigh injury all played their part in restricting Robin to just 23 club appearances between January 21, 2007 and the end of last season. He is due a big slice of luck as far as fitness is concerned.

When he is fit, few strikers are more reliable than Robin. He was Arsenal's top scorer in 2006/07 and hit seven goals in his first 11 games last term before injury struck. Robin has bags of skill and is prepared to shoot from anywhere. You can't blame him - his hammer of a left foot means he is a threat from anywhere in and around the box. The departure of Thierry Henry has seen Robin, understandably, take up set-piece duties too.

The emergence of Emmanuel Adebayor meant Arsenal just about coped without Robin last season but the prospect of that pair teaming up is a mouthwatering one. If the Dutch half of that duo stays fit, he could be the key to a successful campaign at Emirates Stadium.

"For me, Robin van Persie is world class, top, top class," says Arsène Wenger.

The Premier League has been warned.

 

MY YEAR

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.

April

Injury curtailed Robin’s involvement in April’s first two matches but the Dutchman returned with a substitute appearance against Wigan on Saturday 11th. Four days later, Robin claimed his first start of the month in Arsenal’s Champions League Quarter-Final victory over Villarreal. Robin also lashed home a 69th-minute penalty for good measure. However, a groin injury meant that 76 minutes of the FA Cup Semi-Final defeat against Chelsea at Wembley was the 25-year-old’s final action of the month.

March

March was another productive month for Robin as he appeared in all six matchday squads, starting three times and taking the armband once. As ever the Dutchman was in good goalscoring form, slotting home the vital equaliser in Arsenal’ s Quarter-Final victory over Hull. On March 27, Robin scored for Holland in their comfortable 3-0 World Cup qualifier win against Scotland.

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