Robin van Persie: Goal.com World Player of the Week

Robin van Persie after made goals versus Chelsea in Stamford Bridge
Following the departure of Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal to Barcelona during the summer transfer window, Robin van Persie was given the captain’s armband, and the Netherlands international has proven himself to be an able skipper at the Emirates Stadium. 


Van Persie scored a treble against Chelsea in the London derby on Saturday as the Gunners ran out 5-3 winners in a pulsating game of football. The 28-year-old was inspirational at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League fixture and led by example.

He is now the top scorer in the English top flight with 10 goals, and has netted 28 league goals in 27 Premier League games in 2011. When not injured, Van Persie is genuinely world class and he is showing that as the Gunners continue to recover from a disappointing start to the 2011-12 campaign.

After the game, Van Persie told Sky Sports: "You can see how happy we are at the end because we fought hard for this game. Every single one of us showed character and it’s a big, big win for us today."

The Dutchman put the Gunners ahead after a John Terry slip left him one-on-one with Petr Cech and he admitted he was surprised that the England defender had made such a crucial mistake.

He continued: "I was quite surprised because it was just an easy backpass, I only saw it late in the action that he actually slipped because I was closing him down.

"I suddenly realised in a couple of hundredths of a second that I was one-on-one with Cech and a couple of things came to mind but I did the easiest part and just passed him to slide it in."

The 28-year-old went on to suggest the clash was a great advert for the Premier League and admitted his delight that his hat-trick had come at such a tough ground to visit.

"I think we showed absolutely everything that the great game can give to the world," he continued.

"Eight goals in total, Chelsea played well and created a lot of chances as well. We did really well, in the end we got two more goals so we’ve got a lot to offer.

"[The hat-trick] means a lot because in my opinion this is one of the hardest places to come to."

Source: Goal.com &  Sky Sports

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