Robin van Persie, Arsenal
The Arsenal captain has scored 54 goals since the start of 2011 Reuters

Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen has tipped Arsenal star Robin Van Persie to end the season as the Premier League's top scorer.

The Dutchman, who was appointed Arsenal captain by Arsene Wenger at the beginning of the season following Cesc Fabregas' departure from the Emirates, enjoyed a simply stunning 2011 where he netted a remarkable 35 Premier League goals.

Such is the Arsenal striker's renewed confidence and more pertinently his recent fitness record, Hansen believes the Emirates talisman will finish the season as the division's top marksman.

"I can't look past Robin van Persie for this." The Liverpool hero told the Daily Telegraph, when asked to select who will finish as the Premier League's top scorer.

"Not so long ago, Thierry Henry's return to Arsenal might have put him off his stride, but I think Van Persie is now single-minded enough to deal with it.

"He is in a really rich vein of form and his performances for Arsenal this season have been incredible. He is their main man and a striker with every attribute and I just hope he can continue to stay fit and perform as he has been doing."

The Arsenal striker has 17 goals to his name already this season, three ahead of Newcastle's Demba Ba and four more than Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney. Arsenal travel to Swansea in their next league game on Sunday 15 January.

Although rightly proud of his Arsenal record in 2011, Van Persie admits he is still ambitious to better his stunning goals tally in 2012.

The Arsenal captain told the Daily Mail: "It's fantastic. And it was about time! I have had some knocks in the past, but 2011 was clear with no injuries and I could enjoy myself. It has been my best year ever.

"There's a bit of relief that the year has gone how it did, but I'm also happy to give something back to Arsenal and the boss.

"It makes me proud. I'm a sportsman. You want to achieve the highest. My main thing is to win games, but I want to achieve the highest possible." The Arsenal talisman concluded.