Arsenal's worrying start to the season took a turn for the better on Saturday when they picked up their second win of the season to move away from the relegation zone.
Van Persie was the Gunners' destroyer-in-chief, driving past Jussi Jaaskelainen in the second half before turning home with a clever flick from Theo Walcott's cross to put the Londoners 2-0 up before Alex Song sealed the win late on.
The win brought to an end a difficult period, which saw Arsenal drop to 17th in the Premier League table with a 4-3 defeat to strugglers Blackburn.
The win also made Van Persie only the 17th Arsenal player to score 100 goals.
The Arsenal skipper was happy to reach the landmark, but was also delighted to help lift the gloom which has surrounded the club after their slow start.
"I'm very proud. I'm only the 17th player in the history of Arsenal players to pass 100 goals. It is a big achievement," Van Persie said.
"The ball will get a nice place in my living room now. The fans were amazing again. It has been hard for them and us but we can move forward now.
"You could see everyone smiling after, saying 'this is what we want'."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has been the subject of criticism from some fans, agrees with Van Persie that the result has given the Londoners a lift ahead of a huge week that sees the club take on Olympiacos and Tottenham in the north London derby.
"We were under pressure and it was not easy for us," Wenger said.
"You could feel the relief among the fans, the team and the staff, but some days you have to turn up and just get the result."
Wenger signed Van Persie as a winger when he paid a mere ?2.75million for the Dutchman's services seven years ago.
But like Thierry Henry, Van Persie has gone on to blossom in to a full-blown centre-forward and is also now captain following the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona.
Wenger admits the former Feyenoord striker is a hugely important part of his team and hopes he can avoid the same injury problems which caused him to miss part of the early stages of last term.
"It's difficult to imagine our team without him. Let's hope, touch wood, that he remains with us in every single game," the Frenchman said.
"To score 100 goals at the top level is very, very difficult. In 2011 Robin has scored 26 goals in 31 games. That's absolutely magic."
Wenger saw Theo Walcott hobble off in stoppage time after suddenly pulling up on the halfway line with no-one near him.
That had led to fears the 22-year-old would be missing for some time, but it is understood that the knee injury Walcott suffered is only minor and he is likely to be fit to play on Wednesday against Olympiacos.
Bolton, meanwhile, are rooted to the foot of the table after losing five consecutive games.
Manager Owen Coyle was without Gary Cahill and Stuart Holden on Saturday, though, and the Bolton boss also had to play with 10 men for 35 minutes after David Wheater was sent off for pulling Walcott back when through on goal.
The Scot refused to blame the defeat on his injured stars, however, and warned his team they must improve.
"Losing Gary and Stuart was a big blow," Coyle said.
"Sometimes when you are not having the best of luck then things conspire against you, but we can't feel sorry for ourselves.
"We have to work hard and do something now.
"It's been a tough set of fixtures, but I still would have hoped to have six points, not three, at this stage. We certainly have a good team and can win these matches. That's what we have to do."
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk