ARSENAL and Holland footballer Robin van Persie has revealed that Raymond van Barneveld's Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship win has inspired him.
The 23-year-old from Rotterdam followed his fellow countryman's progress through the World Championship over Christmas.
He watched van Barneveld's dramatic 7-6 win over Taylor in the final at the Arsenal team hotel - before scoring twice the following day in their win at Charlton.
"I started watching the final when Phil Taylor was 3-0 up, and it was a brilliant match, amazing for Barney and Holland," van Persie told Arsenal's Official Matchday Programme.
"It inspired me, because when I got home I went to find the dartboard my dad had bought me last year."
Van Persie put the board up in his house, and has revealed that he is spending his time rehabilitating from a broken metatarsal - suffered last Sunday against Manchester United - playing darts.
"Last week, I hit treble 20, treble 20 and then just missed the next one," he revealed.
"I called my wife in and said 'look, look, look' - it was so close to a 180!"
Picture (c) Lawrence Lustig