The Flying Dutchman Robin Van Persie has been in terrific form for Arsenal all year and needs just one more goal to break Thierry Henry’s record of goals scored for the Gunners in a calendar year, but he doesn’t think it is the most important thing in the world.

In fact he put it well-down when asked if it was a priority. He replied: “Not really, no,”

“I will try to break the record but it’s not first on my wish list. It comes fourth or fifth, or something.

“For me I always want my basics right for what we have to do to win. If I can score it’s good but I am not only going out on the pitch to score goals, I am going out there because I love football. I like to play and we want to win the game and get the three points.

“Hopefully I can add some assists or goals but I am not out there as maybe as some other strikers are, thinking of themselves. I am not like that and I never will be. We go out there in a different way and I prefer that.

“There are a lot of players who do their thing and that’s it, but I’m going to make it a bit more complicated and ask for more from myself.”