Van Persie Mwanasoka Bora wa mwaka England

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has been named the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.

The 28-year-old Holland international has scored 27 Barclays Premier League goals this season for the Gunners - his most fruitful campaign for the club - and was humbled to be recognised by his peers.

'If other people are saying it, it is special, but it is even more special if your opponents are saying it,' he said.

Star man: Robin van Persie parades his trophy after winning on Sunday night

'It is very special because you are playing against them week in week out and every single player does everything to win and in the end if they make up their minds that I'm the best player it is a big honour.'

Van Persie may have picked up the top individual honour but he was quick to point out it would not have been possible without his Arsenal team-mates.

'Without them I could not have achieved it,' he said.

'For example Theo Walcott, he has given me more than 12 assists and I do really appreciate that.'

Van Persie was utilised mainly as a second striker, and occasionally out on the wing, in the early stages of his Gunners career after being signed by manager Arsene Wenger from Feyenoord in 2004.

But he has flourished since switching to the centre-forward role - despite initially not having been convinced he could make the transition.

He said: 'Now I am (confident). To be fair, when I first went there I wasn't really as confident and I wasn't really sure I could do it. It took a bit of time but after a couple of months slowly realised I could do a good job there.'

And the Dutchman's importance to Arsenal was underlined by Alan Smith and Ruud Gullit.

'Yes he is vital to success,' Gullit said. 'Arsenal need to win trophies and I think Van Persie wants to and he knows if he wants to become one of the legends of football he needs to win trophies and he will ask Arsene Wenger to strengthen the squad. The team need to give him help.'

It is now eight years since Arsenal last lifted silverware and Smith, who won two league titles with the Gunners, reckons Van Persie has learnt a lot since being promoted to captain.

He said: 'I think he maybe surprised himself the way he has taken to the responsibility and he is a proper Arsenal man now from what I hear.

'It means a lot to him that Arsenal win and he takes it hard when they lose, I think the captaincy has improved him and brought him on.'

But Smith was in agreement with Gullit in suggesting Wenger needs to not only keep hold of his talismanic skipper this summer but also must spend some money to take some of the growing pressure off Van Persie.

'He needs help,' he said. 'There has been an over-reliance on him this season and Arsene Wenger knows that he knows to get other avenues because you can't guarantee one player getting 30 goals every year. He needs a bit of weight taken off his shoulders.'