The red hot form of Arsenal goal machine Robin van Persie has saw him named as the Premier League player of the month for October.
Not only was it a month when Van Persie established himself as the Premier League’s elite striker, October was a time when Arsenal got their season firmly back on track after a stuttering start to their campaign.
Arsenal began the month with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, a result that left the Gunners sitting only two points above the relegation zone.
However things looked very different 27 days later, when Arsenal beat Chelsea 5-3 at Stamford Bridge to register their third straight win and climb up to 7th place in the Premier League table.
During the month Arsenal also progressed into the Carling Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers, and put themselves in a good position to qualify for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages with a 1-0 victory in Marseille.
While many players performed well as the Gunners rejuvenated their season, it was the talismanic figure of Van Persie that fired Arsenal back into form.
Two Van Persie goals sealed a 2-1 Premier League victory over Sunderland, before he followed that up with a game-winning cameo off the bench against Stoke City.
Van Persie came off the bench against Stoke with the score line of a difficult game locked at 1-1. The Dutch international scored twice within 16 minutes of his introduction to lift Arsenal to a 3-1 victory over a notoriously difficult opponent.
While these two performances were impressive in their own right, Van Persie saved the best for last when he registered a stunning hat-trick in an astounding 5-3 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was effusive in his praise of Van Persie in the wake of the attacking master-class displayed at Stamford Bridge.
“Robin is on fire at the moment and his class means he is taking advantage of being in a team that wants to attack a lot and create chances,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “The intelligence of his movement and the accuracy of his finishing is exceptional.”
Wenger must now focus on securing Van Persie’s future at the Emirates Stadium. His current deal expires in July 2013, and at this current rate he will be one of the world’s most sought after strikers by the time that date arrives.
Wenger is hoping to extend that deal, and keep hold of the only player in the Arsenal dressing room to have won a trophy with the club. “He has 10 months to go and I’m confident he will sign a new deal,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “I’m always confident.”
Arsenal began the month with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, a result that left the Gunners sitting only two points above the relegation zone.
However things looked very different 27 days later, when Arsenal beat Chelsea 5-3 at Stamford Bridge to register their third straight win and climb up to 7th place in the Premier League table.
During the month Arsenal also progressed into the Carling Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers, and put themselves in a good position to qualify for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages with a 1-0 victory in Marseille.
While many players performed well as the Gunners rejuvenated their season, it was the talismanic figure of Van Persie that fired Arsenal back into form.
Two Van Persie goals sealed a 2-1 Premier League victory over Sunderland, before he followed that up with a game-winning cameo off the bench against Stoke City.
Van Persie came off the bench against Stoke with the score line of a difficult game locked at 1-1. The Dutch international scored twice within 16 minutes of his introduction to lift Arsenal to a 3-1 victory over a notoriously difficult opponent.
While these two performances were impressive in their own right, Van Persie saved the best for last when he registered a stunning hat-trick in an astounding 5-3 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was effusive in his praise of Van Persie in the wake of the attacking master-class displayed at Stamford Bridge.
“Robin is on fire at the moment and his class means he is taking advantage of being in a team that wants to attack a lot and create chances,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “The intelligence of his movement and the accuracy of his finishing is exceptional.”
Wenger must now focus on securing Van Persie’s future at the Emirates Stadium. His current deal expires in July 2013, and at this current rate he will be one of the world’s most sought after strikers by the time that date arrives.
Wenger is hoping to extend that deal, and keep hold of the only player in the Arsenal dressing room to have won a trophy with the club. “He has 10 months to go and I’m confident he will sign a new deal,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “I’m always confident.”
