Arsenal striker Robin van Persie believes Arsene Wenger is the reason behind his current goalscoring form.
Van Persie has scored 11 goals in 11 Premier League games this season to help the Gunners recover from a woeful start to the season. Currently leading the likes of Edin Dzeko, Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero as the Premier League’s top scorer, Van Persie is quick to offer his thanks to Wenger, who paid £2.75 million for him in 2004.
The Netherlands striker said: “I’m so thankful I met him. When I was 20 he asked me, ‘Why are you not a top player yet?’ I said ‘Because of this, this and this.’ He told me to think about the reasons why and a couple of years later asked me again, ‘Are you a top player?’
“I again said, ‘No, I don’t think so.’ And he said, ‘Why not? Think about it.’ It was then I started to realise. He gave me a little bit of advice on certain things I was doing.
“He told me to think more about my actions. It was a conversation which lasted a year. Every couple of weeks he would refer to that conversation we had. He was giving me proof as well so I could go on and find my answer and I was finding answers all the time. He helped me big time.”
Van Persie, who has scored 29 goals in his last 28 league games, is in the form of his life, but the Dutchman admits it will be tough to keep his impressive streak going.
“For people on the outside it might look as if I’m going to score because I’ve been scoring the last couple of weeks,” he said. “But for me I’m in a different vibe. I still have to do it. I have to find the solution to score which is completely different and quite hard. But when you’re in the vibe and only need one or two chances to score, that’s the best feeling that a footballer can have.”