Robin Van Persie Bio Send To Friend  

Van Persie was very much an unknown quantity when he signed for Arsenal at the end of the 2003-04 season, but has gone on to show his obvious talent at the Emirates.

Bought for just £3m from Feyenoord, Van Persie has proved to be one of the steals of recent years and although his temperament has often been called into question he has never been found wanting in terms of skill.

Van Persie started his career in the Excelsior Rotterdam and Feyenoord youth teams, being capped for the Holland Under-19 and Under-21 sides in the process. In January 2002 he signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Feyenoord and was drafted into the first-team squad because of injury problems at the age of 18.

Van Persie got his first taste of silverware in May when he played in Feyenoord's 3-2 UEFA Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund at the De Kuip and his performances earned him the accolade of the Dutch PFA's Best Young Talent for 2001-02.

By 2005, Van Persie had emerged as a target for PSV Eindhoven, Werder Bremen and Sevilla, but it was Arsenal who won the race and he made his Arsenal debut in the Community Shield victory over Manchester United.

He continued to grow in confidence, but hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in February when sent off against Southampton after the red mist descended. The player had more troubled at the end of the season when he was arrested upon suspicion of rape back in Holland, which resulted him spending time in jail while investigations were carried out. But no charges were brought against the star.

The young Dutchman went from strength to strength after his ordeal and ended the following season as the club's top goalscorer, despite being injured from February onwards with a broken metatarsal.

Following the departure of Arsenal star striker Thierry Henry prior to the 2007-08 season, Van Persie was expected to assume the role as the main striker of the club. However the Dutchman was injured played for Holland was ruled out for two months.

Failing to return to match fitness, Van Persie's season was disrupted by injury, and although he enjoyed a fairly successful time at Euro 2008 with the Holland side, he returned to Arsenal for the following season with another injury blow - ensuring he made just 24 starts.

While his control and trickery have earned comparisons with fellow countryman Dennis Bergkamp and he continues to be thought of as one of the best prospects in the Premier League, Van Persie has yet to prove himself competent of playing an entire season injury free.