The significance of Robin Van Persie's celebration against Arsenal

The setting was Old Trafford, Manchester, Sunday the 10th of November, perhaps the biggest game of the Premier League so far this season. 27th minute of the game and United get a corner, which Arsenal try to defend by deploying zonal marking, and as a result, gave United attackers a 4-5 yard running start.

United’s player of the season Rooney swings a ball in at good pace and Robin Van Persie with the momentum gathered by his run towards the near post, rises high to head in the ball perfectly into the far corner. The home side takes the lead and the fans rise in unison and with euphoria to celebrate the goal which eventually proved the difference between the two sides.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Robin van Persie of Manchester United celebrates at the end of the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on November 10, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

But what transpired on the pitch after the header found the net was really the interesting part. RVP raced out towards Rooney in pure delight and ecstasy and the whole team joined in the celebration. And then he turned towards the fans all pumped up – (celebrating even after scoring against his former employers) like he really meant it.

Flashback to last season and United playing against Arsenal. First time RVP faced his former employers, was at Old Trafford, and he scored within three minutes. The second time he scored was a penalty in the reverse fixture. And that was after receiving a Guard of Honour from the Gunners for already being crowned EPL champions.

Both times RVP refused to celebrate, the first time putting his hands in the air with almost no expression on his face, no hint of a satisfying smile. It was his way of showing respect towards his former club and the fans. But this time around he showed his passion to the United faithful.

Arsenal fans and some neutrals were quick to question his loyalty, integrity and what not on twitter and other social sites, some even hurling abuses at their former talisman. But then they had constantly booed him last season and even in this game, all his touches on the ball were greeted no differently. So perhaps he was entitled to celebrate like he did.

But his celebration signified much more than that. The game was a crucial one, more so for the Manchester based team, who had struggled in the early part of the season and were facing the league leaders. The manager and the players were criticized by fans, pundits and critics alike.

The pressure is always there on United, but this season with all that happened pre-season, in the transfer market and how the results fared early on – the pressure was humongous. This was the team’s chance to show their intentions, their desire and more importantly their credentials as title contenders. And that is what made the goal special.

RVP had major moments last season in the league, none bigger than his hat-trick after missing a penalty against Southampton and that stoppage time winner against Manchester City. This one although much earlier in the course of the game, carried almost the same significance.

The celebration may or may not have any interpretations towards his former club and its fans, but it conveyed a simple and strong message to the fans of his current club.

The message being the players and the staff want the title as badly as the fans. The hunger for the title still remains, and they are not giving up. Despite the period of uncertainty the club is enduring, the goal signified hope and belief and so RVP and the team celebrated the possible season changing goal the way they did.