Van Persie reaches 20-goal milestone

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has scooped the Barclays Golden Boot prize for scoring 20 goals in the Premier League season.

The Dutchman has been the figurehead of Arsenal’s season so far, with countless outstanding displays which also led him to become the first Premier League player to also reach 10 goals this season.

The award is also handed to players that reach the 30-goal landmark, and van Persie will be aiming to be the first Premier League star to reach that milestone since Cristiano Ronaldo achieved the feat for Manchester United in the 2007-08 season.

The 28-year-old has scored 22 goals in just 24 appearances and will be eyeing up the Golden Boot record that currently is held jointly by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole with a haul of 34 (in a 42-game season).

Van Persie has already surpassed last season’s Golden Boot winners Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov, who both scored 20, and has given himself plenty of breathing space between the second-placed Demba Ba of Newcastle United, who has scored 16.