RvP - I rejected dark side

Van Persie: Fulfilling potential

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Arsenal hot-shot Robin van Persie has revealed he rejected the 'dark side' of life as a teenager to become the player he is today.

The Dutchman is currently setting the Premier League on fire, notching seven goals as the Gunners sit second in the top-flight.

But van Persie believes it could have all been different if he had succumbed to the darker temptations available as a young man in Holland.

He now uses a photograph of an under-14s football team for whom he played as a reminder of the right choices he made.

Van Persie told the News of the World: "My life could easily have been completely different.

"I came from a very rough neighbourhood in Rotterdam where there were so many cultures all mixed together.

"I was one of the only white Dutch guys there - my friends were from Africa, Surinam, Morocco, Turkey.

"And, of course, there were distractions. Like when I was younger and was in a shop buying candy - I would pay for one but then take another one.

Crossroads

"I did that sort of thing here and there. We were kids and we all did it. But when I got to 14, I found myself at a crossroads in my life.

"I could have easily gone astray. I saw people doing stupid things - my team-mates, my colleagues, my friends.

"For instance, my friends tried to make me have a drink, have a cigarette and stuff - well, you know, it was Holland.

"But I was always more interested in football, that was what I wanted to do more than anything. So I never did those things.

"I never went to that dark side. It would have been easy to have done it - half the team was doing it, most of my friends were doing it. But I did not.

"I just felt it was not right to smoke, to drink, when you are just 14. Everyone told me to try it but I always said 'no'.

"And the other day I looked at a picture of my under-14s football team and I looked at the ones who were doing those things and also at the ones who weren't.

"And do you know what? The ones who did it - none of them made it!"

Fully focused

Van Persie is now fully focused on helping the Gunners win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.

He added: "So far I have only won two trophies at Arsenal - the FA Cup and the Community Shield. That's not enough and I would hate to finish my career having won only those here.

"I desperately want to win the Premier League and the Champions League with Arsenal and I truly believe that's possible.

"But... I get the chance to play with the likes of Fabregas, Arshavin, Eduardo, Walcott, Nasri and Rosicky - great players who play a beautiful game.

"Then I watch some teams on TV and think: 'Oh my God, this is so ugly!'

"That helps me realise how special it is to be at a club like this. I want to win it all with Arsenal."