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Ever since he made his debut in the Eredivisie, Robin van Persie has had the reputation of being technically very sound, and he has shown that he is capable of scoring great goals. Although he started out as a winger, Arsene Wenger converted him into a world-class striker, just like he had done so well with Thierry Henry earlier. Among the 255 goals spread across 13 years of his senior career, Van Persie has scored some absolute golazos. This year, his wonder-goal against Spain in the famous 5-1 victory has earned him a Puskas award nomination, and is in the top 3 finalists as declared on the 1st of December. Let’s take a look at the top 10 goals of his career. Once you’re finished with the list, you would be quite surprised to learn that he hasn’t been nominated for the award before this.
#10 Netherlands vs Russia, Lokomotiv Stadium, 20 August 2008
Footballers with great shooting technique possess this ability to curl the ball into the goal, keeping it out of the keeper’s reach. They also have the knack of whiffing out a shooting opportunity and getting into shooting position quickly.
If ever you were needed to give a tutorial on nailing a long-range shot, you should show them this goal from van Persie, scored in the World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign at an away game in Moscow against Russia, which helped kick off one of the most memorable campaigns in Dutch football history – culminating in the World Cup final defeat to Spain in extra time.
#9 Manchester United vs Fulham, Old Trafford, 25 August 2014
Having been bought for 24 million pounds after a long-winding and dramatic transfer saga, with Wenger reluctant to sell to competitors Manchester United, Robin van Persie would’ve had the weight of expectations from the United faithful on his shoulders – he was the reigning PFA player of the year, after all, having scored 38 goals in all competitions for Arsenal in 2011-12.
On his first start for his new club, he would’ve hoped to make a good impression on the home fans. He didn’t take long to do so too, netting this very beautiful goal, possibly the most technical goal in this compilation, with an amazingly delicate but powerful touch to direct Evra’s whipped cross into the right corner.
#8 Arsenal vs Barcelona, Emirates Stadium, 16 February 2011
The tighter the angle, the tougher it is to score. The closer the ball is to the byline, the less time one has to direct the ball is. Yet, Robin van Persie, before scoring this goal, somehow, noticed the gap that Victor Valdes had left at his near post, so instead of taking the ball infield, he let it run down.
Faking a cross, he pinged the ball into the gap between Valdes’s right foot and the near post and into the goal. This started a rousing comeback that ended in a 2-1 victory for Arsenal at home in the Champions League against Barcelona. Yes, he is a man for the big occasion.
#7 Netherlands vs Germany, Metalist Stadium, 13 June 2012
Germany vs Netherlands was to be a marquee game of the group stages of the Euro 2012. It had, however, almost been settled by halftime, with Mario Gomez having scored a brace. Robin van Persie had other ideas, though, and he kept plugging away. He was rewarded with a consolation late in the second half, though Netherlands couldn’t capitalize on the momentum.
Being the well-rounded striker that he is and with the shooting ability that he possesses, it is no wonder that Van Persie has scored many goals using what should theoretically be his ‘weak’ foot. This effort, albeit in a losing cause, demonstrates that ability of his, to convert opportunities even from more than 20 yards out on his weaker side. The defenders just back off, and a despairing full-length dive from Neuer could not prevent the ball from going in.
#6 Netherlands vs Ivory Coast, Mercedes-Benz Arena, 16 June 2006
Robin van Persie's first major international tournament was the World Cup in Germany, 2006. Netherlands were drawn in the Group of Death, alongside Argentina and Ivory Coast. With Argentina already having beaten the Ivorians, Netherlands needed to get 3 points from the game to kill off the group and avoid a fussy qualification. van Persie nicely stepped up to the plate on this occasion, scoring one belter of a goal.
The Dutchman is a well-known free kick specialist, having scored the winner against Manchester City in his first Manchester derby, and the eventual winner against Olympiacos. None of those efforts though beat this beast of a shot: the keeper can barely see it go past his outstretched arm. He really gave the ball a walloping on this one!
#5 Arsenal vs Blackburn, Emirates Stadium, 26 November 2005
Though the game ended 3-0, Arsenal needed to sweat it out, with their backline constantly being probed and tested by the Blackburn attack. This was the game in which Henry scored his 100th goal at Highbury. The best moment of the game, though, came at the fag end of the second half.
At the time that Van Persie received the ball, nobody had the slightest idea that the ball would end up in the back of the net as the Dutchman had initially lost it, before stopping the ball from going out of play. He then went off on a run from the touchline, cutting inside and unleashing a curler into the far post, allaying fears of a rather unlikely Blackburn comeback.
#4 Arsenal vs Everton, Emirates Stadium, 10 December 2011
Volleyed goals are prominently featured among Robin van Persie’s top strikes. What makes volleys tough to score from is that the ball is moving with unfavourable spin and pace for a first-time contact. Quite frequently, top players are known to get volleys wrong and look rather stupid. When, however, the connection is proper and the ball has been imparted with enough power, volleys are about as good as goals get – Zidane’s goal at Hampden Park in 2002 is one of the greatest of all time.
It was this one, against Everton at home, that went viral on Facebook for the first time. In a tight match, with Everton allowing few opportunities, Alex Song found the space to feed van Persie, who was making a run into the box and finished the chance with aplomb. Tekkers!
#3 Charlton Athletic vs Arsenal, The Valley, 30 September 2006
Robin van Persie returned from the World Cup in Germany with his reputation enhanced, even though Netherlands had been knocked out in the round of 16. Having missed the latter half of Arsenal’s previous season due to injury, Van Persie returned to the squad competing with Adebayor, who had been signed in the January transfer window as cover and had impressed in his initial months. Adebayor had been benched for this game, though, as the Dutchman started alongside Henry.
After Arsenal had fallen behind early, van Persie equalized for them after some good work by Hleb in the box. In the second half, he scored this one, which was voted the Premier League goal of the month for September 2006. There are some goals that need no description. You just watch them and applaud.
#2 Manchester United vs Aston Villa, Old Trafford, 22 April 2013
There are a few goals that live up to the billing of the occasion. United knew they would win the Premier League crown if they beat Aston Villa at home. It was fitting and fulfilling, therefore, that Robin van Persie, having experienced a few disappointments first-hand at Arsenal over 8 years, seized the moment with a sumptuous hattrick to see Manchester United through to a 3-0 win. After all, he had taken the squad number 20 to lead them to their 20th, which he did.
Wayne Rooney aimed a chipped ball towards him from the halfline. Demonstrating incredible technique, he drove at it with his left foot, and with perfect precision, placed it into the bottom right hand corner of the goal with a wonderful volley, one that underlined his briliant technical prowess.
#1 Netherlands vs Spain, Arena Fonte Nova, 13 June 2014
Of all the goals that he has scored in his career, the top goal has to be this iconic goal, scored against Spain, in what is now considered a very important match in recent World Cup history.
The Spanish defense had already been tested by a slew of long balls played by the all-too-free Daley Blind in the first half. Though they were leading, they looked fragile at the back, with little coordination between Pique and Ramos in the centre of defense. In the case of this particular up-field ball, too, Pique dropped off while Ramos stepped up to try and maintain the offside trap. Van Persie, played onside by Pique, finished with aplomb.
That should take nothing away from one of the most inventive finishes seen at the World Cup. Realizing that controlling the ball would consume valuable time and allow Ramos to recover or the onrushing Casillas to intervene, Van Persie decided to go for it first time, going head-first at the ball without allowing it to bounce. From 16 yards out, he looped it over the keeper and under the bar.
Van Persie running up to van Gaal and exchanging the low five just added to the romance of the goal.
