Arsenal's Van Persie: I doubted my ability as a striker

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has admitted that he used to be uncertain of his ability to impress as a front man.

Following the sale of fellow forward Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City in 2009, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger convinced the Dutchman to move more centrally from his previous wide role. Over the last few seasons, Van Persie has developed into one of the most lethal goalscorers in Europe and looks set to breach the 40-goal mark for the season.

"I never really thought that I would end up as a main striker," he told the club's official website. "I actually never played there before - I did it a couple of times at youth level but it was nothing really special. We only tried it when Adebayor went."

Van Persie learned his profession as a supporting striker, playing behind the front line in the kind of position fellow countryman Dennis Bergkamp occupied for Arsenal.

"That was the idea from day one," Van Persie said. "The boss didn't buy someone else because he was convinced I could do it."

The striker's achievements this season have made him the overwhelming favorite to claim the PFA Player of the Year on Sunday.