EXCLUSIVE: Van Persie reveals the reason for his fantastic form

Robin van Persie has paid tribute to Theo Walcott’s part in his incredible goal-scoring record.

Van Persie spelt out his admiration for his Arsenal team-mate after revealing the special “connection” that has seen Walcott become a key provider for the 29 goals he has scored in 28 Premier League games in 2011.

The Dutch striker’s ­assessment is the perfect tonic for Walcott, hurt by pundits who criticise his crossing and final ball.

Van Persie said: “After every single goal, people ask me, ‘Who gave the assist?’ I just say, ‘Who do you think?’ We have that connection. I know what he is going to do, which is very important.

“It’s vital to have a player around me, as a striker, who knows where I move, how I move, do I want the ball into feet, do I want it behind. He knows where to find me. Stuff like that is vital.”

Van Persie made a point of celebrating with Walcott after the winger laid on his 100th Arsenal goal with a low cross against Bolton in September.

“It was just a big honour and I asked Theo to celebrate with me. I had my history with Arsenal Football Club,” said Van Persie in an interview for a DVD to mark his century of goals for the Gunners.

Walcott missed out on Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad in 2010, but he has proved a point by improving his all-round game in terms of crossing, final ball and scoring.

It has put the 22-year-old back in Capello’s plans. He now looks a certainty for England’s Euro 2012 squad and is favourite to start on the right.

Van Persie’s words will be a huge lift for Walcott, who has been criticised by the likes of Chris Waddle, Alan Hansen and Robbie Savage.

The Dutchman also thanked Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger for his part in transforming him from a raw rookie into a world-class striker.

He joined from Feyenoord for a now-bargain £2.75million in 2004, is now captain of the club and the most-sought after striker in Europe after scoring 29 goals in 28 Premier League games in 2011.

It is the debt of gratitude that Van Persie clearly feels towards Wenger that will leave Gooners hoping the striker could agree to stay at the Emirates.

Van Persie, 28, said: “I’m so thankful for having met him (Wenger) because he made a big difference in the way of seeing, looking at football.”

“I’m so thankful for having met him because he made a big difference in the way of seeing, looking at football.

“I was 20 and he said, ‘Why are you not a top player yet?’ I said, ‘Because of this, this and this.’ He told me to think about it.

“Then, a couple of weeks later, he asked me, ‘Are you a top player?’ I said I didn’t think so and he told me to think about it.

"I started to realise and then he gave me a little bit of advice about certain actions that I did.

“For example, I made a couple of little mistakes in a game. He told me that a top player doesn’t do those actions.

“I started to think about the conversation. It was a conversation that only lasted for five minutes, but it was a conversation that went on for a year because every couple of weeks he was referring back to it.

“He was showing me proof as well. I was taking it on and then it was up to me to find my answers. I was finding my own answers and that’s how he helped me big time.”

Van Persie has grown from being wild and raw when he joined Arsenal into a mature full international.

He was so disorientated after scoring his first goal for Arsenal in October 2004 that he ended up celebrating with Manchester City fans by mistake.

“I lost it a bit. It was very good, it was very memorable. I went and celebrated with the wrong fans!” said Van Persie.

One of his favourite goals was against Barcelona last season when Arsenal beat the European champions at the Emirates.

He said: “I’ve seen images of fans celebrating that win. It just makes me really happy to see that.

“There’s one picture in my mind of a fan dressed up with Arsenal shirt on, a hat on and he was just screaming it out!

“It was like the best moment of his life. It made me so happy. You could see what it meant to him and it made me even more happy to see that.

“When the whole stadium is desperate for a goal, as a footballer, when you are the one who scores it, then it gives you a boost.”

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The '100 Goals RVP' DVD is available at arsenaldirect.com and in club stores. The DVD will be available from all good retailers from November 29 priced at £17.99