Van Persie

[Abebe]

He gives me butterflies. How good is he? Goal against Inter just caught. If healthy, Arsenal could be a threat for cups with him

[alain_9510]

http://bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=568425

[fari]

he is serious. at first i wasn't too sure of his attitude but now he seems more mature. this could very well be his break out year with arsenal

[49unbeaten]

he is serious. at first i wasn't too sure of his attitude but now he seems more mature. this could very well be his break out year with arsenal

He is now out of the shadow of Henry and is in my mind our go-to front man...A healty van persie = goals....

[Gooner_for_Life]

He is now out of the shadow of Henry and is in my mind our go-to front man...A healty van persie = goals....

I think this is a great point. Im sorry i loved henry and he did wonderful things for the club but there were some things that were starting to annoy me. I know it was AW's choice to make him captain but it was obvious he wasnt fit to be captain. Not everyone has the qualities to be a captain and it was clearly true that Henry couldnt hack it. I also believe the media circus was unsettling for the club. Finally the looks he would give Ade when he first came here really upset me. You dont treat your teammates like that. Even though Henry was a striker i think this could possibly be a great year for any of our starters. Instead of being in the shadow of Henry someone else or even multiple players can come forward and grab some media attention and some limelight. Some recognition if you will. Personally good riddance.

PS> I got $5 that Henry blows his knee. Pires, Edu, etc. Kinda a bad trend.

[Publius]

As long as v. Persie can keep his hotheadedness in check and can stay healthy, he can be a monster. He's never been as clockwork reliable as Henry was but this may be the year he breaks out.

On a personal note, I believe that Henry and v. Persie have the same strike rate in games I've been to with both players scoring an amazing 7 goals in 5 games.

[alain_9510]

Van Persie - It is not my aim to be top scorer
(http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=479398&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=Van+Persie+-+It+is+not+my+aim+to+be+top+scorer&sublid=NewsHeadline&Title=Van+Persie+-+It+is+not+my+aim+to+be+top+scorer&f=rss)
By Richard Clarke
Robin van Persie (http://www.arsenal.com/player.asp?thisNav=first+team&plid=60086&clid=4421&cpid=703) does NOT feel under pressure to fill Thierry Henry’s goal-scoring boots this season.

The Frenchman has been the spearhead of the Arsenal attack for the past eight seasons and his departure to Barcelona over the summer means extra responsibility on those remaining.

Despite missing the second half of last season, Van Persie was still Arsenal’s top scorer with 13 and showed his return to form on Sunday with a superb late winner against Inter to lift the Emirates Cup. Although he is the most experienced of Arsène Wenger’s striking quartet for the coming campaign, he does not accept the onus is solely on him.

“No, I don't feel the pressure at all,” he said.
“It's not my aim to be the top scorer. My aim is to play good football with this team. I think we showed that against Inter.

“A lot of players are saying ‘oh, I have to be the top scorer’. But for me the first thing is to play football. Of course there are lots of responsibilities because you are playing in front of 60,000 people.

“You play to win things, yes. But I play football because I like it. I will destroy that feeling if I say to myself I have to score at least 20 goals or 15 goals. Things have to come out of nothing and this is what happened against Inter. I wasn't expecting that goal. It just came out of nothing.”

Before this weekend, Van Persie admitted to some nerves about returning to Emirates Stadium for the first time since breaking his foot in the act of scoring the equaliser against Manchester United in January.

“I’d been out for six months,” said the 23-year-old. “That is way too long. I was just so happy that I'm back.

“I was in good shape, I was playing alright and then, 'bang', out of nothing you are back in Holland having treatment every day. It was quite hard.

“But I'm happy to be playing and scoring for the fans once again. I was really missing that in the last six months.”

[KirbyNYC]

Great article/quote from him. Just watched the SkySports interview with him after the Inter match and I got a great vibe from his atittude. If what he said was true about this team pulling for each other and working hard for one another, then I think we'll have a great year.

Nothing like putting their backs against the wall and having everyone say that we're "all potential and no product" to fire up the lads. We could use a little "us against the world" or "we'll show you!" motivation.

[fari]

Great article/quote from him. Just watched the SkySports interview with him after the Inter match and I got a great vibe from his atittude. If what he said was true about this team pulling for each other and working hard for one another, then I think we'll have a great year.

Nothing like putting their backs against the wall and having everyone say that we're "all potential and no product" to fire up the lads. We could use a little "us against the world" or "we'll show you!" motivation.

you could see the fire and excitement in his eyes. normally footballers give perfunctory responses but he seemed genuinely positive about the club and the upcoming season.

[Abebe]

I just saw the goal again; a moment of genius. One of the goals of the decade.

[BTV802]

Van Persie is super cool!

http://blogs.indiewire.com/reverseshot/archives/Thumbs%20Up.jpg

[TheRoc5]

love to see him in da silva some how working together.

[ivanchin99]

RVP has been my favourite player since last year. His rise in form and performance also coincides with when Henry started to look disinterested and stop trying hard for the team.

Ever since then, there was no doubt in my mind that he would become a Great player, in the class of Henry or somewhere near one day provided he stay clear off injuries *knocks wood.

By the way, Is it just me or is it weird when RVP dribbles, his hands tends to flail awkwardly? Kinda funny too..

[Skizz]

He's got the "puppet run" like Arjen Robben. A lot of Dutch players have that sort of flailing run. No idea why!

[Skizz]

"Football is not about age. It is not about money.

"It is not about those things. Football is about if you want to run for each other, if you want to fight for each other, if you want to really play some ball.

"Chelsea and Manchester did a great job last year. It is hard to fight with them, but I know we can do it.

"Liverpool have spent lots of money, Chelsea have been doing that the last few years. I respect that. This is their way of winning things - but we can win things as well.

"We are young. So what? Age does not matter. It is about the way we play football and the way we like to play together.

"If you win the title with this team it would be great. I really believe we can do that. I really believe that in my heart. I think the manager is thinking the same.

"I started pre-season training on June 18 and I am with these boys every day, I see their ability.

"Yes they are young and young people make mistakes, but that does not really matter - like in love, age does not matter.

"Everyone was really happy to play in this game against Inter. If we play the same way or even less, we will have a big chance to at least fight for the title."

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=479527&CPID=8&clid=3&lid=2&title=Van+Persie+backs+Gunners&channel=football_home&

[nmbrod]

does anyone have a link to his goal v inter?

[Skizz]

Go in the Inter matchday thread there are links to all the goals in there.

[RealMadGunner]

Good to see confidence in themselves .. That'd be almost an extra player on the pitch ..

[deaner1971]

A lot of teams use a lack of respect as a motivating factor and to create an insulative "us versus the world" mentality. This team seems to be adopting the attitude, "you think Henry was the only guy on this team worth a crap? Well, I'll show you." Also, the sense that this team is together, cohesive and excited about being a solid unit for years to come seems to be breeding a new kind of confidence.

Again, not to knock Henry but, it is almost as if a cloud has been lifted and there is now a partnership of equals rather than a star and his supporting cast.

Getting really excited about the season. Early run might be dicey but this team will still have legs in March and that could be critical, especially if we are to make some solid cup runs.

[CTGooner]

A lot of teams use a lack of respect as a motivating factor and to create an insulative "us versus the world" mentality. This team seems to be adopting the attitude, "you think Henry was the only guy on this team worth a crap? Well, I'll show you." Also, the sense that this team is together, cohesive and excited about being a solid unit for years to come seems to be breeding a new kind of confidence.

Again, not to knock Henry but, it is almost as if a cloud has been lifted and there is now a partnership of equals rather than a star and his supporting cast.

Getting really excited about the season. Early run might be dicey but this team will still have legs in March and that could be critical, especially if we are to make some solid cup runs.

Agreed. Some of the quotes coming out of the players, even *cringes* Gallas, have offered reason to be optimistic about the upcoming season. They definately sound more together and unified. With TH leaving, this squad has the opportunity to get out of the invincibles' shadow and create their own era.