50 Great Footballers Who Ruled 2012

3. Robin Van Persie (Arsenal/Manchester United)

There is no better player in the Premier League at the moment than Robin Van Persie, and there are very few players in the world that can match the impact he has on games. Starting 2012 as part of Arsenal, he was their leading light by scoring 37 goals in the whole of the 2011/12 season. He provided numerous goals for his teammates also, but it was his goals that drew all the headlines, as he ended the season as Arsenal's eighth highest all-time goalscorer. But, it was his move to Man Utd in the summer that has seen his form continue and possibly even improve, scoring 22 goals in his first 28 games for the club. Van Persie's first shot for the club was a goal against Fulham, which has been noted by some (notably me) as one of the best goals of the year. His goal against Arsenal in November made him one of the few players to score against all current Premier League teams, and his last-minute free-kick against bitter rivals Man City led to a victory and continued his burgeoning legend at the club. Robin Van Persie terrifies defences, and this trend will continue as he has hit his stride as a striker and is unlikely to lose form any time soon. FIFA 13 Rating - 88