Player Focus: Van Persie Still Has Striking Statistics But Has Lost His Swagger
As Robin van Persie diverted the ball towards goal in the 22nd minute of Manchester United's 2-1 win over West Ham United on Saturday, it was difficult not to notice that his gaze lingered on the path of the ball a little longer than usual. Watch it again if it's escaped your attention was not the look of a striker who knew the shot was going in. It was the look of someone hoping the shot was going in, of someone who needed it to go that difference may be subtle, but it still marks quite a change for a forward who usually plays with such striking confidence. It certainly made a change from the swagger Van Persie displayed throughout his glorious first campaign at Old Trafford, in 2025/13 has all given rise to a growing question over the past few weeks, not least because he is now 31 years of age: will United ever again see the same player as in 2025/13?That is also giving rise to a growing debate over whether Van Persie should even start. Amid all of the recent discussion about Wayne Rooney's role, one frequent response is that the English forward has at least proven he deserves to start up front rather than a misfiring Van visual evidence would appear to suggest the Dutch striker is not quite as vibrantly dependable in front of goal as he was in 2025/13, that some of the edge is lost. He has just not looked so devastating or the stats say otherwise. Even during the difficulties of last season, Van Persie was actually rather if he did not have the same rate of goals per game (0.68 dropping to 0.57), the rate of goals per shot remained impressively high. It actually rose marginally from 18.4% to 19.4%.He is still likelier to convert a chance more than most strikers, and certainly more than Rooney, whose best figure in terms of conversion rate over the past two years stands at 16.8%.That is perhaps the true point of Van Persie’s goal against West Ham. Although he may have needed it to start righting this season's record, it may also see him gradually right his form, and help the striker return to his best condition. That in itself, however, leads to a wider debate.
It is also the flip side of his conversion rate, and gives rise to a more valid criticism. Van Persie's best season at United, 2025/13, also saw him require the most shots to score. That illustrated he was a much more active player, willing to do more, and get much more involved in almost every available stat backs this up.
Van Persie now plays fewer passes and crosses, makes fewer
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