Park JS shines with game-winning goal vs. Arsenal

Park Ji-sung of Manchester United has scored his eighth goal of the season, setting an English Premier League record for most goals by a Korean.

His header won the game for United in the 41st minute in a home league game against Arsenal at Old Trafford Monday. He headed home teammate Luis Nani’s cross in the penalty zone in the 1-0 win.

United jumped to the top of the league standings with nine wins and seven ties for 34 points, ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City with 32 points apiece.

After joining the Premiership in 2005, Park scored five goals in the 2006-07 season, then the highest for a Korean in England. He finished with six goals and four assists in 18 games including league (four goals and an assist in 10 matches), cups (two goals and two assists in three matches including the Community Shield), and the Champions League (one assist in five matches).

Should Park’s momentum continue, he could break the record of compatriot Lee Chung-yong, who had the best offensive season statistically for a Korean last season with five goals and eight assists.

Park is the leading scorer among Korean players based in Europe this season. Before his sixth goal, he scored the same number of goals (five) as Park Chu-young of France’s AS Monaco.

Park Chu-young failed to play in the league for about 15 days because of the Guangzhou Asian Games, and has scored just once since the end of the tourney. As a striker, however, Park Chu-young is likely to score more than United’s Park.

In Germany, Son Heung-min of Hamburg SV has three goals in seven matches and is a rising star on the European soccer scene.

Lee has scored only two goals for Bolton but has five assists, and is considered second only to Park Ji-sung among Korean players in Europe.

creating@donga.com