Van Persie, 28, the Premier League's current top scorer, only began spearheading the Arsenal attack almost three years ago after Wenger sold Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City and has developed into one of the most feared centre-forwards in Europe.
Before the shift in position, the Dutch international played almost exclusively as a second striker, the kind of role fellow countryman Dennis Bergkamp made his own at the club.
"That was the idea from day one,'' Van Persie told Arsenal Player. "I never really thought that I would end up as a main striker.
"I actually never played there before - I did it a couple of times at youth level but it was nothing really special. We only tried it when Adebayor went.
"The boss didn't buy someone else because he was convinced I could do it. I wasn't even convinced about it. I wasn't so sure, because I didn't really play there so much.
"Then, in pre-season, we had a game against Inter Milan. I scored a good goal, played well and he told me after the game, 'You see? It will work'. That was the first step to being a main striker.
"Sometimes, you just question yourself, if you're good enough at it. Those answers came.
"I have been for a while now convinced that I actually can play as a main striker. I just didn't know, and now I believe. Let's see where it ends. Let's see how far I can push myself, see where my maximum lies.''
Van Persie's exploits have made him the heavy favourite to be crowned PFA Player of the Year on Sunday.
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