Van Persie picks PFA Player of the Year award

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie’s marvellous season has got even better after winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award. Van Persie’s 34 goals in all competitions were enough to tip the vote towards the Arsenal captain. The Dutch international’s prolific strike-rate fuelled his team’s revival after a terrible start to the season for the Gunners. Manchester City trio David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Joe Hart, Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker and Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney made up the rest of the list. Kyle Walker was voted Young Player of the Year by his fellow professionals. PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor assessed each of the candidates when the shortlist was first announced. Taylor said Van Persie, 28, has now started to show his true potential after being hampered by injuries in the past. “He has been amazing. When you think of the players Arsene Wenger has brought to the club – he came from Feyenoord for £2.75million I think and that is incredible really.” “When you think of (Dennis) Bergkamp, (Ruud) van Nistelrooy, (Marco) van Basten – he is in that mould of absolutely top-class strikers that Holland, quite phenomenally, manages to produce. You could pick half a dozen of his goals out for goal of the season. Arsenal was struggling for some time but he was a real talisman for them.” “He seems to have lifted the team and got them back believing in themselves again and looking to qualify for the Champions League, giving all Arsenal fans some hope.” Manchester City players dominated the Premier League divisional team with Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and David Silva all represented. And three from Tottenham in Walker, Scott Parker and Gareth Bale also made the team.