Van Persie - Best Striker on the Planet?

Boos rang out across the stadium. Jeers and whistles screeched down from the heavens, grown men displaying their anger and disgust. Their inequivocally brilliant unbeaten run had come to an end the previous weekend...now Arsene Wenger's army were staring at the possibility of consecutive defeats. Trailing 2-1 at home to unfancied Southampton looked like the sparks of a confidence-derailing implosion. The seconds were ticking down, as the linesman signalled for just three minutes left. But then, something incredible happened. Youngster Cesc Fabregas sidled a pass into the box, before an unknown Dutchman confidently checked inside his opponent, before exercising a perfectly delicate curler into the top corner. This was the day before Halloween, seven years ago, and this is where it all started for Robin van Persie.

There have been some fantastic players that have graced the pitches of Highbury and the relatively new Emirates Stadium, but Robin van Persie can surely be placed up there alongside the greats of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright. Ever since that fateful day where the aspiring young Dutchman waltzed into the battlefield, salvaging a point for the North London side, the lad has gone from strength to unsurmountable strength. Blessed with audacious skill, a delicious left foot, as well as being an aerial threat, van Persie has lit up the Premier League, with goals and assists galore.

Is van Persie the best striker in the world? Not many players are blessed with his ingenuity, and his goalscoring record holds up against anyone. Van Persie has scored 28 goals in 27 appearances in 2011, including a sumptuous hat-trick at Stamford Bridge. He has also slalomed his way into the Dutch topscorers list, with 25 international goals.

The summer of 2011 was Arsenal's season of discontent, as talented playmaker Samir Nasri was lured away from the Emirates. However, what surely must have hit van Persie more, were the departures of Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas, the only remaining 'Invincibles' from the fond memories of Southampton in 2004. Van Persie is now the sole survivor from that squad, burdened with task of leading new waves of Arsenal talent to the pinnacle of world football. Following these key departures, and a shaky start to the season, Wenger must realise that events have come full circle, and that he needs van Persie now just as much as he did on that fateful introduction seven years ago.

 

He's probably the best in the Premier League, but I couldnt agree that he's the best in the world now that Messi is played as a striker.

 

Imagine if those two ever got to play together...



<drool>

 

He's a 10% better version of Demba Ba (based on minutes per goal and conversion rate) But definitely best goalscorer in the Premiership, not too sure about the world.

 

he was great till i bought him last week for my fantasy team

 

Van Persie and Tevez IMO.

Rooney is a better all round player than both of them though, but he's not as consistent in terms of scoring form.

The bloke is Man Utd's top scorer plus he's relied upon for creativity. He has a massive weight on his shoulders.

 

that'll be his head

 

He's the best CF without a doubt, but there are better all-round strikers (like Messi)

 

he was my captain this week and only got me 4 points

 

This thread made me look through Demba Ba's previous clubs and goals. Tell you what, he's been prolific wherever he's been...

2005&#8211;2006 Rouen 26 (22)
2006&#8211;2007 Mouscron 12 (8)
2007&#8211;2011 1899 Hoffenheim 97 (37)
2011 West Ham United 12 (7)
2011&#8211; Newcastle United 15 (11)

Hopefully he'll stick around for a while and become a legend on tyneside!

 

hopefully right there mate ,but shearer was the best like suppose hes retired now but hes still on the planet so does this count ??

 

Demba Ba IMO is the best striker we have had ever since Shearer.

 

Distinctly average, at best.

 

We've had a better striker in owen who was phonomenal when bothered/fit - never really then. Ba's finishing is quality though

 

colonel cabaye i second that but rip VAN winkle isnt the best on the planet BIG ALS better and hes retierd

 

Oba, Owen, Carroll all big ones really. Hard to argue against Ba really. Owen would have been the best if he could be arsed and wasn't bloody injured I imagine. Possibly.

 

I don't really agree... Rooney runs around until his chubby cheeks are red, but he's not a "great" striker and seems, to me anyway, to be rapidly falling away from the greatness he has been "destined" for in all the media.
He had a couple of seasons of tap-ins, one with Ronaldo supplying him constantly... Now he's in a team heading downhill, he's struggling.
He used to be fantastic upfront, and when he marched out at his first Euros competition, he was rightly regarded our best forward... But he's more of a midfielder now, and an overhyped one at that. Don't get me wrong, I'd not say no to him, but to think he was once held in the same esteem as Messi and Ronaldo, and now if anyone even dares to contemplate putting him in that class, they'd be kicked off airlines for tweeting **** (or for being wrapped up in a game of celebrity scrabble)...

I can't be alone in being incredibly disappointed with him an English shirt, surely?

 

Ronaldo and Messi are both much better than Van Persie. I know they aren't strictly played as centre forwards on a frequent basis, but as forwards they are much better.

However, Van Persie is easily the best in the Premier League at the moment, and in my opinion, 3rd best in the world.

 

Agree with much of this, but I would say Villa is also better.

 

I'd have to see him in the EPL before I could make my mind up about him. Apart from Barcelona, Real Madrid and a couple of teams below, La Liga isn't up to much really in the way of difficulty.