He is back, free from injuries and enjoying the best form of his life ahead of the 2010 World Cup Finals. And next season, it will be even better.

Speaking ahead of the South African Competition, Arsenal striker Robin van Persie – who made his comeback from injury against Spurs in the Premiership – was speaking about Arsene Wenger’s remark when the Frenchman said that if not injured, the Dutchman can be as good Lionel Messi.

The Dutchman, 26, explained that he cannot be compared to other top class players unless he goes a long period without suffering any injuries. If he does, he is capable of scoring 30 goals in a season and providing 20 assists to his team mates.

Van Persie also revealed how one of his dreams is to be on the same level of Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, adding how he would rather do it in the immediate future then having to wait a couple of years to fulfill his dream.

In pre-World Cup friendlies, the Arsenal man was on target against Mexico, Ghana and Hungary and is one of the hot favourites to win the top scorer award in South Africa. The Netherlands were drawn in Group E, together with Denmark, Cameroon and Japan.

Van Persie said:

Arsene Wenger said at the end of this season, once I’d come back into the team, that ­people would have been talking about me like Lionel Messi if I had not been ­injured.

I can see what the ­manager meant when he said those things. But I still think I am not in the same class until I have gone a long period without an injury.

And I want to go through next season where I score 30 goals and have 20 assists.

Only then I will turn around to the manager and say, ‘Yes boss, you are right’. But I admit that I have a massive desire to get to the level of Messi, Rooney and Ronaldo. And I’d rather do it today than tomorrow.