Many at Arsenal saw Robin van Persie as the long-term replacement for the great Dennis Bergkamp when he signed from Feyenoord in 2004.
Although a catalogue of serious injuries have prevented the Dutchman reaching the heights of his illustrious fellow countryman, his performances when fit mean he is one of the first names on the team-sheet.
Possessed with a kick like a mule, van Persie's left foot is one of the best in the business. After taking over the role of main striker from Emmanuel Adebayor, Van Persie, when fit, has led the line with aplomb and is one of the world's most feared strikers.
Quick Facts:
- Name: Robin van Persie
- Nationality: Dutch
- Date and Place of Birth: August 6, 1983 in Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Position: Striker
- Current Club: Arsenal (Premier League)
- Previous Club: Feyenoord (2001-2004)
- International Career: 2004 to present
Breakthrough at Feyenoord:
Van Persie's creative tendencies run in the family, with his mother a painter and his father a sculptor.At the age of 14 he joined Dutch side SBV Excelsior's youth squad, but left for Feyenoord after disagreements with the coaching staff.
He was promoted into the first-team at Feyenoord because of an injury crisis and made his debut at just 17.
But Van Persie fell out with coach Bert van Marwijk and was subsequently dropped to the reserves. The coach also sent him home on the eve of the 2003 Uefa Super Cup final against Real Madrid because of perceived poor body language.
After eight goals in his debut season, Van Persie was forced to spend much of the 2003-04 campaign on the bench as his relationship with van Marwijk remained uneasy.
With the club unsuccessfully attempting to extend his contract, the player was sold to Arsenal who had been interested for some months before completing the move.
A New Start at Arsenal:
The Dutchman signed a four-year deal with the Gunners in 2004.His only trophy with Arsenal to date has been the 2005 FA Cup, but his belief in Arsene Wenger's long-term project at the Emirates Stadium persuaded him to sign a new contract in 2009.
Van Persie has learnt to tame his wild side under Wenger's tutelage and petulant red cards like the one he received against Southampton in February 2005 are a rarity these days.
One of his finest moments in an Arsenal shirt came against Charlton Athletic in the 2006-07 season when he scored a spectacular airborne volley, that Wenger labelled "the goal of a lifetime."
Van Persie was a left-sided player when Wenger signed him from Feyenoord, and although he can still play out wide if instructed to, the departure of Thierry Henry in 2008 saw him playing higher up the field.
It seems the Dutchman doesn't do minor injuries. Long spells in the team are followed by sustained periods on the sidelines, with a broken toe, and knee and ankle ligament injuries having ruled him out for several months since arriving at Arsenal.
Netherlands Career:
Van Persie made his debut for the national team in a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Romania, and scored in his second appearance against Finland.He played in all four matches in the 2006 World Cup as the Netherlands progressed from a taxing group which also included Argentina and the Ivory Coast. A stunning free-kick in a 3-1 victory over the Africans was van Persie's highlight of the tournament.
Two years later at Euro 2008, Van Persie netted two goals (to back up his four in qualifying) as the dazzling Dutch reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated in a thrilling encounter against Russia.
Playing both out wide and in a more advanced role, Van Persie's goal return for the Dutch is respectable, but it is also his ability to create that makes him such an asset for club and country.
He featured throughout the 2010 World Cup as his country reached the final before going down to Spain, but he scored just once against Cameroon and was subdued in several of the matches.
