Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has said that despite his fine scoring form in the Premier League this campaign, he is just as happy when creating chances and is not focusing on breaking the record for number of EPL goals scored in a calendar year.
The Dutchman scored a penalty against Aston Villa last week to bring his goal tally for 2011 to 34, drawing him level with former Gunners legend Thierry Henry.
With QPR set to travel to the Emirates on New Years’ Eve, Van Persie has one more game to reach Alan Shearer’s record of 36 goals in a calendar year, yet the forward insists adding his name to the record books isn’t his first priority.
“I will try to break the record but it’s not first on my wish list. It comes fourth or fifth, or something,” Van Persie told Arsenal Player.
“For me I always want my basics right for what we have to do to win. If I can score it’s good but I am not only going out on the pitch to score goals, I am going out there because I love football. I like to play and we want to win the game and get the three points.
“Hopefully I can add some assists or goals but I am not out there as maybe as some other strikers are, thinking of themselves. I am not like that and I never will be. We go out there in a different way and I prefer that.
“There are a lot of players who do their thing and that’s it, but I’m going to make it a bit more complicated and ask for more and more from myself.”
Whilst in top form in front of goal, the Netherlands international still enjoys the buzz of a first-class assist, insisting that the creator deserves just as much plaudits as the goalscorer.
“For me I do appreciate assists as much as a proper goal,” Van Persie added.
“It’s so important to have that. Luckily enough we live in a world now where people do recognise good assists. Before it was more about the goalscorer and he was the main man but people do realise that the guy that makes that final pass is just as important.
“We all know that it’s important that the assists get the credit too, which is very important in my opinion. For me personally, if I could choose between a tap-in or a really good assist, I would choose the assist all day long.
“For example, Alex Song’s pass for me in the game against Everton. It was a really good volley, OK, but without that pass I would have never scored.”
When questioned about potentially reaching Alan Shearer’s record of 36 goals in a single calendar year, Van Persie added:
The 28-year-old has admitted he would like to score more with his head, however, with all 16 of his league goals this season coming from his trusty left foot and ever-reliable right.
Van Persie continued: “I do work on that because I think it’s just about getting that crucial information in your brain that you actually can do it, heading is not really about height, that it’s only for tall people.
“It can be for lots of people, look at Tim Cahill at Everton, for example. He jumps highest and his timing is always right. I think I spoke after the Leeds game that I want to score more headers.
“I would like to score more but at least there has been some improvements in the last year. I do feel that it can be a strong point from my point of view.
“With heading, everything needs to come together because you have to balance your steps, take a look and calculate your own measurements.
“I have it in me, I know that and I show that but I want to do it more and really make it my weapon.”
How do you stay up with football when on the move? With http://m.goal.com – your best source for mobile coverage of the beautiful game.