Arsenal star Robin van Persie says taking advantage of their rivals dropping points by winning against QPR was more important to him than setting a new Premier League scoring record.
The Dutchman went into the game at The Emirates needing a hat-trick to beat Alan Shearer’s record, set in 1995, of 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year.
However, Van Persie could only score once to take his total to 35 – one short of Shearer – and secures the survival of the former Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and Southampton striker’s record for another 12 months at least.
The finish from the 28-year-old does mean that he climbs above Thierry Henry as Arsenal’s top Premier League scorer for a calendar year, the Frenchman having once netted 34.
Van Persie was pleased to have the club record and said he was not too disappointed at not beating Shearer because the three points were more important.
He told the BBC: “I was one short of Alan Shearer’s record but I have the Arsenal record in my hands.
“For me, the main thing today was the win. Man United lost, Chelsea lost and Spurs dropped two points, so it is a big day for us.
“As a sportsman you want to achieve the highest possible and on a personal note the highest was to score three today and get the record.
“But after the Wolves draw, there was only one thing on my mind – to win today.”
Interestingly, Van Persie does have a much better goals-per-game ratio than Shearer, with the Arsenal striker’s 35 goals coming in 36 appearances, whereas it took Shearer 42 matches to net his 36.
Henry, who is on his way back to The Emirates for a short-term loan move from January, managed his 34 goals in 39 games for the Gunners during 2004.