Arsenal may deny RvP chance to break record

Robin van Persie needs just three goals to break Alan Shearer’s record of 36 Premier League strikes in a calendar year. (FILE)

Published Monday, December 26, 2011

By Staff

Robin van Persie may not get a chance to have a crack claiming a Premier League record if Arsene Wenger has his way.

The Arsenal captain needs just three goals to break Alan Shearer’s record of 36 Premier League strikes in a calendar year.

But Gunners boss Wenger says he may have to rest the forward to stop him becoming burnt out – even though he has only two games to break the tally.

Wenger admits he could earn the wrath of fans if he rests the Dutchman against Wolves on Monday or QPR on New Year’s Eve to spare him for the trip to Fulham on January 2, according to Mirror Football.

"It will be a big demand for him, but I don’t know yet, we will assess the situation after every game," the manager said.

"I don’t want to stop him. I am very happy if he does it, but hopefully he can combine the record with staying fit. You get his vibes, the medical vibes and you know the history with him. Then you make a decision.

"I did it (rested him) in the Champions League because I thought we had enough security there and we could take a gamble. Also he was very tired after the Chelsea game.

"What is important for me now is he stays fit. I know that if he is fit he will score goals. It’s as simple as that."

Having scored 34 goals in 34 games this year to draw level with Thierry Henry, Van Persie insists he is more concerned with helping the team than beating the record.

But Wenger suspects that the reality is a bit different, having been in charge when Henry and Ian Wright set their own different landmarks.

Wenger said: "But I have seen it with Ian Wright, he was aiming for the record and he didn’t score.

"After he said, ‘no I am not bothered’, but you know with Ian Wright, the one thing he thought about day and night was scoring the next goal.

"It was a little while for Thierry as well, so it is on their minds a little bit but they do not have to make an obsession of it, just play naturally.

“It is strange because you score goals when you don’t think about it.

"I believe the great players know what is important. And what is important is that he is the leader of the team. He knows as well that what is important is to win the games.

"What is important on the pitch is to make the right decision for every situation you face. He does that very well."