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

ANALYSIS
By Oliver Platt at Carrow Road

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.

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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.

When watching Arsene Wenger’s side at this moment it is the sheer inevitability of their captain scoring that strikes you. With Mikel Arteta and Alex Song sitting deeper, the advanced quartet of Van Persie, Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Aaron Ramsey has dazzled over the past few weeks.

At Carrow Road it was Walcott who took centre stage. The England winger tormented Canaries full-back Marc Tierney, particularly during the first half, and it was simply a matter of time before Van Persie took advantage of one of the 22-year old’s trademark low crosses he so loves to fizz across the penalty area. He did so to level the score in the first half.

The second goal came from the centre of the park. After Song had dispossessed Norwich defender Russell Martin, the Cameroon midfielder ran at the home side’s defence before slipping a precise through ball into the path of his captain, who finished with a delicate chip executed with stunning composure.

Van Persie's brace demonstrated the two different sides of his game. He is as clinical as they come in and around the six-yard box, possessing something like a sixth sense enabling him to judge where a ball is going to arrive. He also, however, is blessed with a left foot as sweet as any other in world football, is efficient with his right (as evidenced by the match-winning chip) and has made an art of peeling off of defenders into narrow passages of space.

Arsenal are at the top of their game and face just one ‘big six’ side before January in the form of league leaders Manchester City. It is a vital spell which could put them firmly back into contention for a place in the top four and, therefore, the Champions League.

Qualification for Europe’s premier tournament will likely be required in order to keep Van Persie beyond the expiration of his current contract in the summer of 2013. Now 28 years old, he has so far won only the Uefa Cup (with Feyenoord) and FA Cup during his career.

In all likelihood, Arsenal will need his talents to add to that 2005 cup triumph in the short-term. They must hope that this is one Gunners captain Wenger can persuade to stay.