Robin Van Persie Deserves PFA Player of the Year: A Fan's Reaction

Robin Van Persie is the favorite to win the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year award on Sunday, and, without a doubt, he should.

When Arsenal was going through its struggles earlier this season, he was the lucky charm for them. He has been consistent when the rest of his club has suffered injuries. When everyone seemed to pile on Manager Arsene Wenger to be let go, Van Persie simply let his phenomenal play do all the talking.

You can pick seven or eight goals this season by Van Persie as the Premier Leagues' goals of the season. I personally think his late, match winning goal against Liverpool, where the Gunners escaped with a 2-1 win, was one of the most exhilarating moments for Arsenal football in a long time; definitely this season. That exciting win seemed like the spring board moment for Arsenal's sustaining success.

If you did a poll of every club in the Premier League and asked each player who they thought the best captain in the league was, they would probably say Van Persie. Of course there would be a few players who wouldn't want to offend their own captain, but if they gave you an honest answer I'm sure Van Persie would be the first to pop into their heads. He has scored 34 goals in all competitions for Arsenal so far, making the 2011-12 season the most productive of his career.

Van Persie never pictured himself as being a main striker. It wasn't until Arsene Wenger asked him to shift from second to main striker when Wenger sold Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City, almost three years ago. Wenger's intuition paid off for Van Persie and Arsenal fans.

On the youth level, Van Persie had spearheaded the attack of a team but he said, "it was nothing really special." For Arsenal this season, it's been extremely special and you can see in his play that he is convinced that he can do great things in the role.
He has lifted the Gunners up on his shoulders and amazingly elevated them to third place on the Premier League Table. There's no earthly way that would've happened unless Van Persie was the skipper.

Manchester City has three great players nominated; Sergio Aguero being the closest competitor to Van Persie for the prominent prize. The Argentina striker is also nominated for the Young Player of the Year after a exceptional debut after his pricey move from Atletico Madrid. I think he'll win the latter. Like Van Persie deserves the more prestigious trophy-Aguero deserves the award for the best young player because he is.

If I was a betting man, which I'm not, I think it's a lock that neither Van Persie or Aguero will go home empty handed at Sunday night's esteemed annual awards.