Squarefootball's Player of the season: Is Robin Van Persie our top man?
Tony Adams is known as Mr Arsenal but where would the Gunners have been this season without Robin Van Persie? He has single-handedly saved Arsenal's bacon time and time again and kept their Champions League dreams alive. The Dutchman has been named the PFA and the Football Writers' Player of the Season, but did our straw poll of football fans agree?
West Ham United fan and Squarefootball's Team of the Week expert Mitch Waddon believes Van Persie was the only stand out candidate for the accolade.
"I think each year there is always one man that stands out and this year it’s been RVP. Without him Arsenal would probably be languishing in the bottom half of the table and Arsene Wenger might be sunbathing on a beach in France on a Saturday instead of standing in North London. Arsenal now MUST keep this guy, or they will be in trouble next season. If they must let him go, then send him abroad."
Birmingham City fan Steve Coulter couldn't disagree.
"Player of the season for me had to be Robin Van Persie. He bagged 37 goals this season. Where would Arsenal be without RVP?"
Bolton Wanderers fan Dave Blackburn was also impressed by RVP's displays for Arsenal this season.
"It has to be RVP. Anyone who scores that many in a Premier League season after the start they had deserves it. If Cisse had been at Newcastle earlier, he would have been in with a shout. Tim Krul would be up there as he has been amazing for the Toon."
Leeds United fan Phil Bundy gives Van Persie the nod, just ahead of Chelsea's Didier Drogba.
"A close call for me between Robin Van Persie and Didier Drogba but with Drogba only lighting up the field for the latter half of the season it has to go to RVP who led from the front, scored in vital games and ensured a strong finish for Arsenal and helped guarantee Champions League football once again for the Gunners."
The greatest accolade RVP could receive though is from a Tottenham fan. Mike Richards has no love for his rivals but he concedes that RVP has been outstanding this season.
"Player of the season has to be Robin Van Persie. It literally pains me to say it but without him the Gooners would be mid table."
However, in a crazy season there have been other players who have impressed for their clubs. A few of those above have already touched on the performances of Newcastle's Papiss Cisse and Tim Krul, but West Brom fan Andy Wakeman insists we should not overlook the impact Tottenham's Luka Modric has had on the season.
"Modric he has been the spark behind a Spurs team that have clinched a top four finish and whilst he has been probably less spectacular than Gareth Bale he has certainly been effective. Papise Cisse at Newcastle was my other stand out performer but as he has only played half a season I couldn’t really nominate him. Having said that what a half a season it’s been, he looks a real find."
Sunderland fan Tony Ratton though believes the accolade should be heading to the Etihad.
"Player of the season for me was Manchester City's Yaya Toure. Massive player for City. If he had not been away for the African Cup Man City would have won the league months ago. A class act."
Squarefootball editor Antony Melvin also believe it should be delivered to a City player, but not to Toure.
"My player of the season is Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany. The epitome of a team player whose goal in the Manchester derby all but sealed the title. He scored fewer goals than Van Persie, but all arguably important ones."
But Chelsea fan Joe Tyler has gone totally left-field.
"For me it has to be Norwich City's Grant Holt. The Canaries would probably be going back down without him."
Personally it has to be Robin Van Persie. They say there's no such things as a one-man team but the Dutchman comes remarkably close to making that true. He has become a world class player at Arsenal and Wenger can ill afford to let him leave in the summer. It's not just been his goals, his assists, influence and leadership qualities have been there for all to see this season.
Take a bow Robin Van Persie, you are Squarefootball's Player of the Season.
Calling all football fans. Do you agree with our choice? Was RVP the MVP of the season? Should one of the City players have landed the top personal accolade for their displays this season? Or what about the likes of Grant Holt, Michel Vorm or John Ruddy? Whatever your view we'd love to hear from you.
