Have you ever wondered which Premier League player has hit the woodwork most since 2006?
Nope, nor had we until about four hours ago.
For those who did say yes, worry no more…
Despite what any Arsenal fan tells you, Robin van Persie is a Premier League legend.
The Dutchman sits 12th on the all-time top scorers charts with 144 goals to his name after 14 seasons in England’s top flight.
If every shot that RVP hit the post with had gone in, he would sit third – above Thierry Henry and Frank Lampard.
I’m sure some of you will be muttering about your auntie having bollocks at this point, but the number of times the former Man United forward hit the post is remarkable.
Van Persie struck the woodwork an incredible 44 times over his Premier League career.
Second on the list is his old striking partner, Wayne Rooney.
The D.C. United no.9 had 29 attempts hit the woodwork, 15 behind van Persie.
Hot on the Rooney’s heels is Sergio Aguero, who is currently on 27.
Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane also have a good chance of catching the flying Dutchman, both on 21.
While you’re told to aim for the corners when finishing, RVP might have taken that a bit too literally.
No more so than in his penultimate season at Arsenal, when Van Persie managed to hit the frame of the goal an amazing 10 times.
That is the most of any player in one season.
He also topped the charts in 2009 and 2013 (both seven.)
Aguero, who seems to have every goalscoring record about in sight, could potentially break van Persie’s record of ten in one season.
The Man City forward has struck the post six times this season, the same as Marcos Alonso.
Yep, that Marcos Alonso.
While the former Man United star will not be proud of this record – or probably even aware of it – it is a clear lead he has above the following pack.
Had RVP netted just six of those near misses, he would be in the top ten goalscorers in Premier League history.
Food for thought.
Whenever the ‘best foreign striker’ debate ensues, you always hear the same names: Henry, Aguero, Didier Drogba and Luis Suarez.
It is always worth remembering that, with a bit more luck, there might have been one more name added to that elite group of players.
In another life, Robin.
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