text: Premier League: Goals of the 21st Century | GiveMeSport
  Premier League: Goals of the 21st Century
  Since the turn of the 21st Century, the Premier League has been graced by some marvellous players who have scored sublime goals - from smashing volleys to long-range strikes and stunning team goals.
  Here is a look back at some of the most memorable efforts from the 2000-2013 period, with at least one goal from each season since the 2000/01 campaign.
  Thierry Henry | Arsenal v Manchester United
  A moment of magic by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. With a pass played into his feet outside the 18-yard box, it looked as though he was just going to hold up play and keep the ball moving to another team-mate.
  However, the master Frenchman certainly had other ideas, much to the dismay of compatriot Fabien Barthez - the Manchester United goalkeeper - as Henry held off his marker, flicked the ball into the air and superbly volleyed the ball into the top corner of Barthez's goal.
  Mario Stanic | Chelsea v West Ham
  Although a great player in his own rights, nobody could have predicted what Mario Stanic did in August 2000.
  Receiving the ball from his Chelsea team-mate on the right wing, and a good 40-yards from goal, he chipped the ball into his path, took one knee-up and one kick-up and then smashed it into the West Ham net. A truly spectacular effort.
  Dennis Bergkamp | Arsenal v Newcastle
  The scorer of many great goals, this stands out amongst Dennis Bergkamp's finest, portraying his skill, strength and finishing qualities all in one small passage of play.
  Team-mate Robert Pires knocked the ball into Bergkamp in the area, and the legend span round his marker after producing a deft touch before effortlessly nudging the defender to the ground and calmly stroking the ball past the Magpies' goalie. To view this stunning goal, scroll to the top of this page and watch the embedded YouTube video.
  Alan Shearer | Newcastle v Everton
  Geordie hero Alan Shearer is a legend on Tyneside and the all-time leading goalscorer of the Premier League, so the chances are we'd find him in this list.
  The ball was hoofed towards Everton's penalty area from the left of midfield, knocked down and somehow found its way to the right boot of Alan Shearer, who spectacularly drilled it into the Everton goal.
  Thierry Henry | Arsenal v Liverpool
  Henry's second appearance in the list; this goal is much different to the first but similar in terms being absolutely wonderful.
  This time, the Frenchman picked the ball up just inside the Liverpool half, carried it, left Dietmar Hamann on the floor and Jamie Carragher nearly taking out his own team-mate, before opening up his body and wrapping the ball into the far corner of the goal.
  Wayne Rooney | Manchester United v Newcastle
  Newcastle were again on the receiving end of a wonderful goal, when Wayne Rooney belted in this beauty.
  The Liverpool-born striker was originally arguing with the referee while jogging towards the Newcastle goal after the ball was pumped towards the area. But, following a clearance by Peter Ramage, the ball fell perfectly for Rooney, who leathered it with anger, power and precision into the top corner of Shay Given's net.
  Morten Gamst Pedersen | Blackburn v Fulham
  Morten Gamst Pedersen has scored many fabulous goals during his time in England. This one, however, is more special than others due to its sheer technical brilliance.
  Rovers' team-mate Shefki Kuqi whipped a ball in from the right-hand side of the Fulham box, and the bleach-blond winger arrived at the back stick to thump home a left-footed volley into the top corner of the goal.
  Paul Scholes | Manchester United v Aston Villa
  No greatest goals list would be complete without Paul Scholes in it.
  This was a true Scholes special, as well - pure power, technique and class. A United corner was defended by Villa but, unfortunately for the hosts, the Ginger Prince was lurking and the ball fell straight to his right foot, allowing him to rifle home a magnificent volley off the underside of the crossbar and in.
  Robin van Persie | Arsenal v Charlton
  A thunderous effort from Robin van Persie. The ball found its way to the edge of the Charlton penalty area after an Arsenal cross, and the striker quite lived up to his "Flying Dutchman" nickname by launching himself in the air and performing a spectacular scissor-kick to finish.
  Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United v Portsmouth
  A glorious free-kick by Cristiano Ronaldo against Portsmouth. With pace, accuracy and the technique of getting the ball up and down over the wall all mastered perfectly, this goal was another act of genius from the Portuguese winger.
  Fernando Torres | Liverpool v Blackburn
  A sublime goal from Fernando Torres earns him the Spaniard a spot in this list.
  Jamie Carragher tossed a long pass towards the forward, who only needed one touch with his chest to set himself and then smashed the ball in with a right-footed volley from an extremely narrow angle.
  Maynor Figueroa | Wigan v Stoke
  Almost an unbeatable strike in this list, Maynor Figueroa astonishingly scored from his own half against Stoke.
  Long-throw specialist Rory Delap conceded it and wandered off, leaving the Wigan defender to delicately float the ball over Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen from range.
  Wayne Rooney | Manchester United v Manchester City
  This goal could not be beaten for its position in this list given its significance.
  The whole situation: a derby match and rivals Manchester City and with 12 minutes left on the clock - Wayne Rooney could not have scored at a more perfect time.
  After Paul Scholes drilled a pass out wide to Nani, he gathered it and delivered a cross which was deflected by a City defender, leaving the ball floating delicately towards the United star, who launched himself into the air and threw his right boot at the ball, which flew past a dumbstruck, rooted Joe Hart.
  Peter Crouch | Stoke v Manchester City
  A piece of superb technique from Peter Crouch, who stunned football fans with this fabulous volley.
  He got the ball from a nodded pass by a team-mate, slightly to the right and about 25-yards from goal, took one touch to tap the ball in front of him, and with his back to goal hammered in a screaming volley to easily beat the acrobatic Joe Hart.
  Jonathan de Guzman | Swansea v Stoke
  Jonathan de Guzman has been an important player in a Swansea side that have kept possession admirably this season, and this goal highlighted the beauty of their passing game.
  In a quick passing move, packed with team-work and fancy flicks, the ball was played towards Danny Graham who swiftly tucked it through to De Guzman with a delightful one-touch pass, and the Dutchman finished neatly to grab his second and Swansea's third of the game.