Arsenal captain Robin van Persie is delighted with the scoring record.

Van Persie has revealed his pride at equalling Thierry Henry's club record for the most Premier League goals in a calendar year.

The Dutchman has scored 34 times in 2011 and has two matches left this year to surpass the all-time Premier League record of 36 goals by Alan Shearer in 1995.

Van Persie, who equalled Henry's tally with his penalty in the win at Aston Villa, said: "It is a big honour to equal Thierry's record because he is probably the best player Arsenal ever had. To achieve what he did in a year is really special. It makes me proud.

"I think it has helped that I haven't missed a single Premier League game and featured for 90 minutes in most of them.

"When you have a good run, and you feel fresh and fit, you try things, you take more risks here and there than, for example, if you are just coming back from injury. You always need a couple of games (to get fully sharp) when you're back from injury.

"As a striker I think it is really important to have a go. If you look at my performances, I take more risks now because I know with the team behind me I will always get more chances.

"It's not that I only get one chance normally, I always get one, two, three, sometimes four chances in a game. That sort of tells me that I can take a risk here and there."