Van Persie would be nuts to leave Arsenal
By Simon Rose
He is more a lone ranger than a strike partner
Legend has it that Arsenal have "given in" over selling Robin van Persie to Manchester United, according to The Sun. Van Persie scored a lot of goals last season and that is eye-catching but frankly I am surprised that United want him. United narrowly lost the title to City and they were miles off in the Champions League. On paper, RvP and his goals should fix that problem. But football is not played on paper, solutions are not always that straightforward.
Was a key reason that United ‘failed’ last season that they did not have an effective partner for Rooney? Possibly so, but if they think that signing van Persie will solve that they may be barking in the wrong forest, nevermind up the wrong tree. Is United’s problem more that Wayne Rooney has become such an inflated football figure that he is unpartnerable? If United are after RvP to partner Rooney, they should consider a very basic question: how recently have either van Persie or Rooney shown – at club or international level - that they are an effective strike partner? Both are more effective as a lone ranger. This could be a forced, unhappy marriage.
United have often shunned their other strikers, to play Rooney in a lone role. Van Persie and Rooney have rarely shown that they can partner someone of an equal nature, just lesser players, happy to accept an assistant role. The season before last, Berbatov scored a bunch of goals, but where was he last season? After Rooney’s contract strop, Berbatov disappeared and Rooney has only partnered Chicharito or Danny Welbeck, both of whom rank lower and both of whom are grateful for the chance to play.
You can understand why van Persie may want to play for United – their history, a chance to play for their manager, a greater chance of success - but it's a gamble for him. RvP would be throwing out his Arsenal history and burgeoning status to chase a United future that may never amount to much. He could become an Arsenal legend if he was to remain at the club, rising high up our all-time goalscorer’s list, but he will never be a legend at United. He would be just another striker that they had. I am convinced that van Persie would play less at United than he would at Arsenal. Is that what he wants? You can look back wistfully if a transfer does not turn out to be quite what you thought it might, but once you are gone you are gone, there is no way back to what you had, especially in a transfer of this nature.
Van Persie could, yet, if he wanted to, rescue this situation and rescue his Arsenal career. It would be hard for RvP to redeem himself in the eyes of the fans but it is not impossible, not with a carefully-worded statement and a demeanour where he holds his hands up and shoots from the heart on how he has balanced a tricky dilemma and made a decision to stay. "I put my hands up, it’s been a difficult summer, it’s been difficult to know what to do for my future and I’m sorry that I released a statement that was maybe a little bit impetuous, but I'm excited for our future and I want to stay, to become an Arsenal legend." Such an apology, coupled with a clearly good attitude on the pitch, would smooth things back towards an acceptable normality.
Arsenal have made some excellent summer signings so far and more may yet come. There is a buzz. That is quite something to leave behind. Podolski and Giroud look to be getting on well and I fancy them to link nicely, dovetailing quite naturally. Both can be stunning successes for Arsenal. RvP could yet form part of a very exciting Arsenal strikeforce, which would allow for players to be rested, rejigged and kept fresh in a credible pursuit for honours. Isn’t that what van Persie wanted? Yes we could do with some further signings and they may yet happen. Or is the bottom line that he just wants to leave anyway? Is it enough that United would pay him more money? Has he dug himself such a hole that he feels too embarrassed now to climb back out of it?
As I’ve said before, don’t love the players, love the club. Enjoy what players you have between the transfer windows because they are fair game during them, even someone like Robin van Persie, your goalscoring badge-kissing Arsenal-supporting-since-a-kid captain.
14th August 2012
User Comment and Reaction
User comments on this article are now closed. If you want to continue the debate, why not do so on the Gooner Forum.
MRMROD 11:32am 14th Aug 2012
Heart warming stuff Simon but it cannot be glossed over that RvP has shown his true colours in the form of disloyalty. I wont harp on about his abysmal fitness record or the one great season in eight that he has had but more that his statement in writing which raised two fingers to the club who stood by him through personal and professional troughs; only for him to bite the hand that has fed him so well. 'Its not about money its about ambition' but we clearly displayed true ambition this season with our acquisitions so far and at that point he could have quickly provided a new tail between his legs statement by way of a dramatic U-Turn. He too would be the highest paid earner in our clubs history on top of the week in week out honour of captaining the club and getting to live life in one of the greatest cities on earth! I agree, "lets love the club", and sell him, before the season kicks off, to the highest bidder and if he's willing to go to Manure for £22m then so be it. He can become their risk. - Post No. 27714
Theo's Bikini-Line 11:32am 14th Aug 2012
What's RVP got to apologise for? He was only telling it as it is. Remember how frustrating it was all of last summer not knowing if Cesc and Nasri were going or staying? At least with RVP's statement us gooners got used to the idea that he was unlikely to stay fairly early on in the piece, rather than having to wait until almost the last day of the transfer window before finding out that both were gone - despite the assurances of the manager!! One last thing, do you think we would have signed Giroud and Cazorla if RVP hadn't have questioned the club's ambition and threatened to leave? - Post No. 27715
dee.groom 11:47am 14th Aug 2012
noooooooooooooo jus get rid, time for change gives others there chance, he'll be paid far to much wen we've got players i think given there chance will b able to do the job, plus with he's injury recored? bye bye persie and forgoten :) - Post No. 27716
Football Fan 101 11:47am 14th Aug 2012
Arsenal haven't won anything major in years, RvP has kept them afloat, it's the club that is holding him back. He needs a higher profile club to truly become one of the greats...something that Arsenal isn't at anymore. - Post No. 27717
Wenger Lover 12:02pm 14th Aug 2012
Go to hell RVP ! You peaked last season,its downhill for you all the way down! Have him MU! We dont need him anymore! - Post No. 27718
Gary 12:05pm 14th Aug 2012
Yeah why would he join the biggest club in the country with the greatest manager ever when he could be playing for a club with the ambition of finishing 4th.I just cant believe it - Post No. 27720
Paul 12:15pm 14th Aug 2012
Simon you dont half talk some bull.You say RVP would be a legend if he stayed.What a player who has had one good season in 8.A player who has only twice played over 25 games a season for us.A player whose favourite position was lying on the treatment table.Legends are Adams PV4 DB10 and TH14 not one season wonders.This is great business for Arsenal.Lets hope the stories that Song to Barca and Walnutt to Scouseland are true as well - Post No. 27721
Tony Evans 12:32pm 14th Aug 2012
I would state the complete opposite in that he would be nuts to stay. He is 29, wants to win some medals and he obviously thinks that is not going to happen at Arsenal with the nutty professor at the helm. I can't really blame him for wanting to move. You may be right about RVP and Rooney not being a match made in heaven but Old Red Nose usually gets it right so who knows. - Post No. 27722
John Gooner 12:46pm 14th Aug 2012
You cannot say that what RVP said a month or so ago was wrong. We looked a side lacking direction and lacking ambition - you CAN question his loyalty, but football careers are short and any of us would want to win trophies. Perhaps RVP's statement was a catalyst for change, I certainly hope so. The squad now looks stronger than it has at any time since the invincibles; if RVP leaves now, he will have to think of a new reason or face being just another disappointment. I don't think there should be any embarrassment in RVP staying, he made a statement and Arsenal have made one of their own - we await his response... I am relishing the kick off on Saturday - Cazorla, Song, Arteta, Podolski, RVP, Giroud? - Post No. 27723
Ian the Gooner 12:49pm 14th Aug 2012
RVP should have been sold two months ago.When will Arsenal ever learn if a player wants to go sell them.We had it with Cesc we had it with Nasri.The way we run our club is a shambles.Simon instead of having a go at RVP you should be taking aim at Mr £7m a year Wenger.A manager who lets players run their contracts into their final year and then turns around to the fans and tells them that the players are going nowhere when we all know they are..And anyone who thinks Theo will sign a new contract dream on.He's offski.If Wilshire by some miracle comes back he will be the next one out the door - Post No. 27724
Simon T 12:53pm 14th Aug 2012
What on earth does RVP need forgiveness for? He has a chat with AW and is not convinced that the right players will be bought; quite rightly fancies a bit of real silverware before a stint in the USA and thus decides that his chances are better elsewhere. He expresses the same point of view as many of the contributors to this site and yet is castigated! I want him to stay but if he goes I'd say thanks and good luck. - Post No. 27725
alba 13:29pm 14th Aug 2012
i bewlieve arsenal era is finished. they never gonna reach what they had before.they were very very lucky last season to finish top 3.this season i cant see happen it.i truly believe the will go down no matter happen with persi stays or goes i just dont see any good in arsenal any more. - Post No. 27727
ren vassilliou 13:37pm 14th Aug 2012
I have said all along that once the door closes that would be it for Van Persie, the fact that really hurts is him going to The Arch Enemy, how could a man that was given all that support from Wenger decide that's it I'm off to Utd , how about the supporters of 8 years that nursed him and chanted his name on the stands ,does he really want to be more hated than Adebayor, he should reconsider his options and if he has any heart for the Club,the Fans and most important to the Manager that gave him all the support through all those injuries and stay with the club where he is loved, i am sick of seeing players kissing the Badge and then off they go as if it don't mean nothing, Think hard RVP and don't regret your actions...... - Post No. 27729
Graham Simons 13:48pm 14th Aug 2012
Biggest club in the land you could be but what did you actually end up with last season? the same reward as us and we had our worst start to a Premiership season ever. He's giving up the captaincy of the biggest club in the greatest city on the planet to go off to not even the second city where no doubt he'll play second fiddle to Rooney. Our transfer budget is also set to be swelled by a new kit sponsorship AND supplier deal. We're well on track to repay the money on the stadium at which point what money comes in can go out again. And we have outspent your lot for the first time in years. We have had the overeliance on youth during the lean years but tell me honestly who really is the club on the up? Us or United? I say if RVP is stupid enough to sign for United let's get rid now. - Post No. 27730
Paintballing with Daiby 14:22pm 14th Aug 2012
Firstly, I'm loving the new signings and subsequent feel good vibes that seem to be radiating throughout the club right now. However, it could all be very easily undone by this RVP saga continuing to go the way the it seems to be going. Although I agree that RVP should probably be sold, I am in all honesty one of those Gooners who is desperately holding out for the kind of disingenuous letter of apology and contract U-turn that Simon describes. The chances of that are admittedly slim and he probably will need to be sold before this window closes. But! with one huge great f**k-off caveat... we simply CANNOT sell to ManU! I can't understate just how absurd the idea of selling to them in particular is, especially for a measly £22m! Not only would that put them right back in the title mix but the message it would send to the fans and the psychological damage it would do to the players would be absolutely devastating (much worse than the Cesc to Barce). Selling to a direct rival, never mind Man U is just beyond asinine on so many levels. I can't believe Arsene or the board would be stupid enough to sanction such a deal. The long term damage would probably far out way any transfer fee we could recoup for a 29 year old player in the last year of his contract. Plus... we mustn't forget that Manchester United are the biggest bunch of narcissistic corporate whores in football, believing themselves to be gods gift to the game and humankind in equal measure. "Theatre of Dreams" F**k right off! - Post No. 27731
REN VASSILLIOU 14:31pm 14th Aug 2012
If Van Persie signs for Man Utd it will be the biggest betrayal of all time ... Judas for life ... go anywhere you want but not to your teams worst enemy.. that's putting the knife in.. - Post No. 27732
TONY JOHNSON 14:53pm 14th Aug 2012
I AM FED UP UP WITH MANCHESTER UNITED MANCHESTER CITY AND OTHER CLUBS KEEP WANTING ROBIN VAN PERSIE THEY SHOULD ALL STOP AND GET ON WITH FOCUSING ON THE NEW SEASON AND ARSENAL PLAY ROBIN ALL SEASON AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF ARSENAL WIN A TROPHY AND GO FROM THERE - Post No. 27733
DW Thomas 15:12pm 14th Aug 2012
A fair weather player is RVP. One good season and he is off for more money and maybe better chances to win something. Can you blame him? Yeah, but the majority of the blame lies with Wenger. He is the most responsible for the situation at the club, at least if you go by his statements. He gives players chance after chance, talks of mental strength and spirit, but I don't see it. No one else does either. Sure he gets one right once in a while, say with Kos, but then there are the Almunias and Denilsons. His denial of the way things really are either shows he is complicit with the board or is truly completely out of touch with reality. Arteta was a panic buy last year, but at least he is quality and seems to really have heart. He left Everton kind of similar to what RVP is doing now. But, he did not go to a rival or Liverpool, did he. If RVP goes to United, there is no more evidence needed. We are a feeder club, a poser. Wenger is already talking about how we can challenge for the title. Let's wait and see buddy! He says the same s..t each season, only excuses. Yes, the signings are good, but we need a couple more for a complete, deep team. Hasn't Arsene learned over 7 trophyless seasons that the year is unpredictable with injuries and suspensions? I can barely stomach each quote from Wenger these days and never trust at all anything that comes from his lips. By the way, Bendtner, Squillaci, Denilson, and Park are still on the books, no? And what was the purpose of buying Park? He looked ok in the Olympics, I thought. South Korea had that grit and effort we see many Arsenal players lack. Bottom line with RVP: you are quitting on your team and club. When the going got tough, you got going...to your rivals. Hope I am wrong. - Post No. 27734
Olesolks 15:28pm 14th Aug 2012
Very nice article, touching really! And this coming from A United fan should make you feel really good...keep Writing! - Post No. 27735
Arsenal Feeder Club 15:36pm 14th Aug 2012
RVP is 29 he has one big move left.He wants to finish his career with trophies he wants to be in team photo with a cup in front of them.Lets all be honest and take our blinkers off he aint gonna do it with us.And i dont class the top 4 cup or the Emirates cup as real trophies unlike Inspector Clueless - Post No. 27736
Bard 16:34pm 14th Aug 2012
Simon you raise some interesting points. Why would he want to go to Man U ? Barca, Real Madrid yes but United ? Despite their record they are a club in decline. Still having to play Giggs and Scholes is a sign of desperation In my opinion they are held together by Fergie's mighty personality. Does anyone really think they will anything this year ? They are desperate having been unable to compete in the transfer market for sometime, paying in the region of £20 for RVP with his injury record is desperate/bonkers or both. The second point is that United have no decent midfielders capable of supplying RVP. He is not an out and out striker so your question about how he will fit in with Rooney is a valid one. They also often play with one up when they play decent oppostion so where does he fit in with that system. He also thrives best when he is the main man; bit parts don't suit him. So the answer to the question why United becomes more clear; as so often these days he seems to have had his head turned by the opportunity to earn loadsofmoney. - Post No. 27737
Mike 16:41pm 14th Aug 2012
Ian the gooner - if I have my facts right, attempted negotiations started with RVP started at the beginning of the year - he then said he wanted to wait until the end of the season - negotiations reopened at the end of the season with from what I hear a pretty decent contract - he then said he wanted to concentrate on the Euros - the Euros finished and then RVP came out with his statement which was totally unprofessional using social media,(it doesn't matter what job you do) -this made it clear that he wanted to go - no decent offers were made until about two weeks ago -RVP dragged his feet as much as Arsenal- it takes two to tango - Post No. 27738
Highbury Boy 16:54pm 14th Aug 2012
Let's cut out the emotion. Has VP got a better chance of winning a medal at Man U or Arsenal? Get your answer from the bookmakers' odds. There was a time,not too many years ago ,when it was the other way round. The signing of the extra forwards was never in addition to VP but instead of and there has been zero strengthening of the defence. What happens when SzCz can't play beggars belief. - Post No. 27739
jj 16:56pm 14th Aug 2012
Anyone think Arsenal want to sell him? Podolski looks a direct replacement to me. - Post No. 27740
maguiresbridge gooner 17:04pm 14th Aug 2012
Yes Simon if the papers were to be believed he's gone to man u and a lot of man u fans i know due to his time at arsenal will never see him as a true manc just an ex gooner brought in to do a job with the help of arsenal cashing in on their best players every season but i suppose that could change if he were to help them win the prem or CL it would certainly be a gamble for him especially injury wise but how many times on here last season was it said it was only a matter of time till he got injured and he never did (thank god) I agree RVP if he wanted to could still rescue the situation and indeed his arsenal career it could be very exciting indeed if he were to have a change of heart and to see him linking up with our new signings providing of course some of our other glaring weaknesses were to be addressed. - Post No. 27741
Ron 17:26pm 14th Aug 2012
Honest Gunners fans can where RVP is at really. Its not hard to understand. You make some great points though. My view? Its time to sell. His age, his fitness as he approaches 30. RVP wont do a Shearer or a Drogba and be really good till his mid 30s He ll be done at the top at 31/2. 20 Million(ish) plus an add on or two is a good deal for him. His best has gone. It happened last Season before our very eyes. Like you, im surprised United want him. RVP as Rooneys 'No 2'/sidekick isnt a match made in heaven. Far from it.I suspect its just to spite Mancini to be honest and to show that Utd still have 'clout' more than what Van P can offer!I cdt care less hes going but as i say, can fully understand why the grass looks greener via RVPs eyes.I hope hes not making a massive error as ive always liked him, despite the limited returns for 7 years. - Post No. 27742
Peter Wain 17:57pm 14th Aug 2012
You cannot balame the players leaving to win things. The players we have had over the last seven years with a few more additions should have won the title at least once. The reason we doid not is poor management by the American owner poor management by Gazidis who is not fit for the position he holds, poor management by the other board memebers who spend all of their time counting Kroenke's money and poor management from Wenger who has given large contracts to too many ordinary players who we now cannot sell. - Post No. 27744
thatsimonrose 18:10pm 14th Aug 2012
Interesting comments as always. You can never include every single argument, or you'd be writing indefinitely. I chose my words carefully. Paul, I didn't say that RvP would be an Arsenal legend if he stayed, but that given the amount of goals he's scored he could yet become one. But like I said after he released his statement, once that went down badly he felt like an ex-Arsenal player at that point. - Post No. 27745
4th is not a trophy 18:51pm 14th Aug 2012
@TonyJohnson Those clubs will continue to cherry pick our best players because they know at the end of the day we always give in and sell.Kroenke is not interested in trophies he's a businessman.What does it tell you when the team that finishes 3rd in the league sells its players to the teams who finished above them and the teams we want to finish above.A fit RVP will win Utd the title.Nothing sums up the difference between Utd and us better than they buy RVP off us and we buy Silvestre off them - Post No. 27746
Kenny 19:06pm 14th Aug 2012
When RVP comes back next season he will be booed like Nasri was.Yet where are the protests against the 3 clowns who run our club messrs Wenger Kroenke and Gazidis.Its their mis-management of our club that is the reason why Cesc and RVP are leaving.When the ambitions of the club are a top 4 finish which both Wenger and Gazidis have both said is a trophy.And our owner who hasnt spoken a word about our best player leaving for the second season running.And take a look at the deadwood still at the club Flappy Santos Djourou Diaby Arshavin Park and Chamakh.RVP and Cesc are not stupid they jumped before the ship sank. - Post No. 27747
MIKE #1 19:13pm 14th Aug 2012
I am having a hard time understanding Van Persie right now. If he wanted a move, he should have kept very quiet and let Arsenal sell him, us getting a good fee and him getting a nice contract with Sh!tty or Juve for a lot of money. But by making that stupid statement, he's lowballed Arsenal's position and put us in a spot where we might end up keeping him b/c now everyone knows he won't sign a new contract, so he'll be available for free next year. But think what that means to him regarding his potential for a new deal with another club. He'll be 29 going on 30. He'll continue to make a "paltry" 80k/week, which equates to 5m in "lost" wages over a year. So wherever he ends up, his contract will be for 1 yr less (2 or 3 yrs instead of 4 or 5). Sure the money "saved" on a transfer fee will be added back but his value at 29/30 will be significantly less than today, so the max it will increase would be 5m/yr anyway and it's unlikely he'd get all of it (unless he goes to Sh!tty). But it's a huge gamble - he may get injured. He might be in poor form (he's certainly not going to play as many games unless he continues scoring at the same rate he did last season - if he even starts this season). I think he's really misjudged the situation, any club signing him for 15-20m and giving a 3 yr 180k/wk contract must be nuts, or Sh!tty. - Post No. 27748
maguiresbridge gooner 19:27pm 14th Aug 2012
Agree with Theo's Bikini-Line yes has any of the RVP haters stopped to think that maybe it's down to him that we've shown a little ambition at last (and i guess the R&W statement was a factor as well) that some of these signings were made and for the first time in seven or eight seasons can go into the season with a bit of optimism providing like i said in an earlier reply other weaknesses are addressed.Like TBL says he was only saying what most of us knew and thought. - Post No. 27749
Theo's Bikini-Line 21:51pm 14th Aug 2012
Mike (post 27738): No, you haven't got your facts right. RVP came out with his statement BEFORE the Euro's and was put under pressure not to comment further until AFTER the Euro's by the club - probably because they feared it having a detrimental effect on ST sales. - Post No. 27755
LJB 22:47pm 14th Aug 2012
Van Persie had a meeting with Wenger and Gazidis just after the end of the season.At this meeting the details of a new contract were NOT discussed because RVP told them he had no intention of signing a new deal and wanted to leave.All parties then agreed on a media blackout so that Arsenal could sell ST's,make signings (giroud) without being held over a barrel and Van Persie could concentrate on the Euros.However once the Euros were over,Wenger told the press that he thought RVP would sign a new contract,and PHW said that RVP was staying.This seriously annoyed Van Persie because they were making public comments that were plainly untrue and designed to mislead the fans.That is why he released that statement.Whether that was a wise thing to do remains to be seen.I can't understand why Arsenal fans don't question why our best players always want to leave.Bale signed a new contract with the spuds when he could have gone anywhere;now Agger is begging Liverpool not to sell him to City.Neither of these clubs have CL football next season yet it doesn't seem to matter to their players.There is something not right at Arsenal and it is about time plans were made for life after Wenger as he only has two yrs left thank god.I fully expect to see the old bugger at PSG,spending dosh like its gone out of fashion.Did anyone see that quote from him a few yrs ago when he said that what PSG needed was some serious financial muscle behind them?Lo and behold there appeared a Sovereign Wealth Fund to the rescue! Seems our Mr Wenger is not adverse to his beloved PSG (he is a fan BTW) buying top quality and being financially doped,but Arsenal have to make do with mediocrity.Cazorlas alright though. - Post No. 27760
Joe S. 23:46pm 14th Aug 2012
Gary your blog is poetry, there's not much more to add there, then there's alba. I hope your wrong my friend but I'm afraid this is where arsenal are heading. As for Ren Vassilliou, the berrayal comes from Arsene Wegner selling out to the commercial interests of the yank and the accountantant rather than focusing on making Arsenal the best team in the country. - Post No. 27765
GOD 0:48am 15th Aug 2012
if Arsenal offered him 220 k a week he would stay! look at it from Van Persie's point of view players are earning that at city, united etc! same with Rooney he wasn't going to sign new contract until united pay what yaya toure gets at city! as soon as they did Rooney stayed! Van persie will get his big wages at United if he goes there! at Arsenal he won't! Wenger won't risk the wage budget he doesn't want to risk arsenals future!!! - Post No. 27766
AussieRussianGooner 5:24am 15th Aug 2012
Great article Simon. I feel he may have wavered since making his statement, but it's not easy to get back to the table now, with Arsenal having spent money on Cazorla. We may not be able to even match the original offer to him, let alone better it. - Post No. 27768
Graham89 7:33am 15th Aug 2012
Mr Rose what world do you live in?Arsenal are run as a business every penny that goes out of the club has to be recouped.Arsenals business model is self sufficiency.We spent over £40m on 3 players so that £40m have to be recouped.Gazidis has said we only make a profit from sales.RVP is gone Song is going and there is no way Theo will be allowed to go into the final year of his contract and leave for free.Anyone who thought RVP would be kept for his final year and let go for free knows nothing about business and nothing about the way Arsenal are run.I actually haer some Gooners say sell RVP for £20m and spend that money.You joking.The club is run on producing profits NOT winning trophies.Thats what self sufficiency is all about - Post No. 27771
GoonerPaul 8:57am 15th Aug 2012
I also think VP would be mad to leave! He's the main man at Arsenal! He's the captain the fans love him (well they did, and I'm sure will turn back on his side if he decided to stay) and after all his injuries arsenal have stuck by him and made him the player he is today! If he decides to leave and go to man utd, Im positive he will be yet another arsenal player to turn around in the future and say "damn I should never have left!" he will be just another player at man utd! He wanted ambition from then club and that is exactly what winger is showing this year with some of the signings he's made, with yet more maybe to come in! In my opinion we have a better squad than man utd this year! Who really would you want in the arsenal team from man u apart from Rooney, vidic and evra! Our midfield,when all fit, looks far better equipped than theirs! I think this is an exciting time and season for arsenal with or without VP! We will be winning trophies again in no time! - Post No. 27772
Kevin 9:15am 15th Aug 2012
@Gooner Paul Yes RVP is the main man the captain and the fans did love him.But he isnt going to win anything at Arsenal and thats the bottom line.Do you really think we would have bought Podolski and Giroud if he was staying?get real.Every Gooner with half a brain knows we will not win anything again under Wenger.At Utd they have a manager who looks on finishing 2nd as a disaster unlike Wenger who thinks a top 4 finish is like winning a trophy.RVP ws right no ambition to actually win trophies - Post No. 27773
Jon 10:01am 15th Aug 2012
Personally I can't wait to see him get absolutely clattered by one of our players next season. Once he pulls on that United shirt he's fair game. I'd be extremely disappointed if one of our boys didn't leave him with something to remember the club by. Preferably just above the ankle. - Post No. 27774
Ruud 11:35am 15th Aug 2012
I am looking forward to alternating between: "He scores when he wants, Lucas Podolski he sores when he wants" and: "what's the score, Robin van Persie whats's the score" when we beat Manure at home and away. We can you know; I have a good feeling for this season. - Post No. 27775
Danny 11:56am 15th Aug 2012
@Jon you have got some chance more likely they will be lining up to hug him before the game. - Post No. 27776
AKB Basher 12:14pm 15th Aug 2012
Wow Simon Rose outdoes himself AGAIN in the AKB stakes. Fortunately, realists like me are around to dispel such myths and lies so here goes. MYTH 1: 'RVP could become a legend at Arsenal'. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? That a top player should just carry on at an uncompetitive club where he has no chance of ever winning the league or CL, just so he can become a 'club legend'?! What is this 'club legend' title? Who decides it? Is this how the best players in history are recognised? Cristiano Ronaldo is not a 'club legend' at ManYoo but he is still a European footballer of the Yera who has won everything. Matt Le Tissier is a 'club legend' at Southampton, who still has no medals to show for it. This is the argument made by fans of small-time clubs. Well done Simon. MYTH 2: 'Big strikers who play in lone roles tend to suffer alongside other star strikers'. Funny because Giroud played as a lone striker at Montpellier - I don't assume you now think he's gonna flop because he's playing alongside Podolski now hmmm? Ah course not. The argument will change! Pffft MYTH 3: I challenge you to find a SINGLE PERSON IN WORLD FOOTBALL who would choose a partnership of Giroud (who is he?) + Podolski vs RVP + Rooney. That you try and claim potential failure i laughable. MYTH 4: You have written a whole article about Manchester U and how they hould be worried about all those positions that need filling...while some of that may be true, it makes you ook a little foolish when that very team with all its weaknesses finished a grand 19 (yes NINETEEN!) points ahead of your beloved Wenger! 19 pts! And set to add RVP! I am a Gooner and I find Gooners like you quite pitiful. Instead of worrying about whether it'll work for Manure or not, how about you talk about all the areas of the Arsenal squad AW continues to neglect? You know: no quality keeper to challenge the overrated Chez, no top quality left-back, no suitable reserve right-back, no DCM of top quality, still no quality reserve centre-back! By my reckoning that's at LEAST 4 areas Wenger has screwed Arsenal on. And yetyour whole article worries about Manure. Conclusion is: this is anothe rlaughable AKB article. We have won NOTHING in almost EIGHT YEARS. And you are still too head-in-the-sand to realise that RVP is fed up of hanging around a team that wins nothing??! - Post No. 27777
GoonerPaul 12:18pm 15th Aug 2012
@kevin I don't know why some people think that under wenger we can never win anything again! It's crazy! Course we can! Last season was a great finish by us. Dont you think wenger would love to go out and spend 40 million on a player of course he would but at this current time it's just not possible untill things change on the board! As an arsenal fan I'm surprised you are not excited about the coming season as this looks to be the most promising team in years! If we don't win anything thus season I'll hold may hands up and say I was wrong but I honestly think this will be a good year for us. Van Persie will go to united As just another player and prob be injured in the first few months to be honest. When if he stays at arsenal would become a legend! - Post No. 27778
Wenger muss jetzt gehen 12:20pm 15th Aug 2012
The RVP saga has clouded the fact that we have not signed one defender this summer.This comes after the worse defensive performance for 20 years.Surely we cannot go into the season with Flappy/Manonne as our number 2 keeper.Why does Wenger treat the goalkeeping position with such distain.The LB position is beyond a joke.It does my head in when i hear fans say Sicknote Gibbs and Fatboy Dim are great going forward.Who cares they are defenders.Lets not forget Djourou is still at the club!!!!No team has ever won anything without a good defence and that is why we will be potless again.Without RVP its 4th place at best this season - Post No. 27779
Tony 12:30pm 15th Aug 2012
Simon ask yourself this why our best players by a million miles and captains Cesc and RVP left the club? Cesc and RVP had been at the club for 8 years they were there with the likes of Henry DB10 Pires Campbell etc they have seen the decline of a team that used to challenge to a team content to finish top 4.Cesc has gone to the best team in the world RVP is joining the biggest team in the world.While Arsenal are now a feeder club to both of them.Instead of crying because RVP wont stay you should be asking questions of Wenger and our Invisible owner - Post No. 27780
tpm 12:31pm 15th Aug 2012
it made no differnce to the price him coming out with that statement or not. clubs would relaise he would not be signing a new deal if we offered him to them, it wouldnt take colombo to work that out, so the imbecilic arguemnt saying that his statement has lowballed arsenal by undermining his potential fee is absolute rubbish - Post No. 27781
maguiresbridge gooner 12:38pm 15th Aug 2012
Jon it will certainly not be nice to see him in a man u shirt but to say you'd be extremely disappointed if one of our players didn't leave him something to remember the club by preferably above the ankle are you for real ? are you forgetting what it was like when the same thing happened to three of our own players thats if you are a gooner and not a trolling spud.Idiot. - Post No. 27782
Laurence 13:07pm 15th Aug 2012
Robin Van Persie wants to end his career with medals and one last big pay day, which at the time of releasing his statement he didn’t think he could achieve at Arsenal. Despite how the press portray it and you lot swallowing it, he is an Arsenal man like Henry and Fabregas before him. Manchester Utd might appear to be his only viable option now, but RVP was not initially agitating for a move to another English club. Barca missed David Villa hugely last season and must know they need authentic forward cover for him. Who better than RVP? Arsenal will be happier to sell him abroad, and RVP would probably compromise on his own wage demands for the experience of ending his career at the marquee club. Seems to me a club who already possess Busquets and Machereno are more likely to be here for RVP than Song? - Post No. 27783
Jodley 13:35pm 15th Aug 2012
What a great article, and a great web site. I only found your site today and have been really impressed. - Post No. 27785
Highbury Boy 17:50pm 15th Aug 2012
I agree with Tony (Post 27780). You have to question AW and the Owner not VP. Let's get real. Our business model of balancing the books dictates all. We cannot sell Arshavin,Squillaci and the other 10 so we have to loan out where we can and sell for top prices the products the customers do want. Which is why our player of the year and the runner-up are likely to be sold in the next few days. All the while praying for a continuation of CL football. - Post No. 27788
Hafeez 18:32pm 15th Aug 2012
This is a brilliant write up which I wish Van P could read... He just wants to succeed in killing his own career! Enough about him tho n let's see d brighter side of d club... He aint bigger than d club... Fabregas seemed like wuz a mistake allowing him go but then afta his leave, Van P had all these goal wit d help of Walcott n odas. So will his own case be too... Others will come up! - Post No. 27790
C.Senor 19:04pm 15th Aug 2012
@GoonerPaul I gave up on us ever winning another trophy under Wenger in 2009 after the Man Utd CL semi final when we were battered he came out and said the first priority of the club is finishing in the top 4.And thats how he has managed the club since.We had one of the top 5 players in the world in Cesc but he surrounded him with Song Diaby and Denilson and sold the player who brought the best out of him for free Flamini(yet he gave Rosicknote a £70k a week contract after 4 good games last season!!).There is no winning mentality at the club.Look how we collapsed in the run in 2010 and 2011 look how we couldnt beat relegation bound Birmingham in the final.Last season we finished NINETEEN points off the top 2.But we finished top 4 and thats all Wenger wants because 4th place is a trophy.And like Nasri and Clichy did last season RVP will win the prem because of their manager and we wont because of ours - Post No. 27791
Wenger Out 19:47pm 15th Aug 2012
Yeah, why leave a failing club to go to a successful one where you get paid more money and win things! Ridiculous article as ever.Wenger Out! - Post No. 27792
just a feeder club 19:50pm 15th Aug 2012
Fergie cant beieve his luck for £13m less than Liverpool paid for Carroll and £28m less than Torres he has signed Europe's best striker.Oh well only another 12 months till the Ox leaves.And the highest ticket prices in the world - Post No. 27793
Frank 20:41pm 15th Aug 2012
Yet more evidence that Arsenal are a feeder club to the big boys.Now remind me again we moved stadiums so we could compete with the likes of Man Utd Real Madrid and Barcelona.But what will the fans do about it?Nothing Just keep quiet and carry on being shafted by the club.We the fans are to blame.We do nothing get rid of Kroenke.Do you think back in Denver Kroenke is upset that for the 2nd year running we have lost our best player or is he rubbing his hands at the £20m.I think we all know the answer.Only Usmanov can save us - Post No. 27796
Danny 22:17pm 15th Aug 2012
i have been saying for years, We will never win until Wenger leaves It is his policies which are wrecking Arsenal . Players want money but at some stage they want to win. RVP wants trophies, he just cannot see it at Arsenal. Good luck Robin - Post No. 27797
Canterbury Goonerq 22:17pm 15th Aug 2012
Last time you picked the day he said he wouldn't renew to argue that he might well stay, and now you pick the day United agree a fee with us! Rooney would probably be a second striker and RvP the main man. Berbs got one lucky season, Rooney doesn't play as a lone striker anyway... - Post No. 27798
Joe S. 23:17pm 15th Aug 2012
Poor,foolish, selfish Robin Van Persie;his going to Old Trafford means that he will be lining up with the likes of Rooney, Nanni,Kagawa,Wellbeck as well as some of the best young talent in the Premier league. Then there are stalwards such as Giggs, Scholes, Ferdinand, Evra and Vidic who could really teach him something about club loyalty and being serial winners. Compare that to the team of ad hoc misfits and injury prone crocks he leaves behind under the guidance of the delusional le Boss who sits complcently on his seven million a year. You'd have to be Mandy Dodd not to see that he has made the right career choice. This doesn't mean everything will be roses, he may find himself surrounded by a bunch of bastards with Fergueson in particular prone to giving him a kick up the backside in order to follow the company line, although this is how winners carry on. It's going to be repulsive and sad to see RVP wearing the Manure. shirt and celebrating with Rooney but that's what Arsenal have come down to to. In a perfect world we fans would be clamouring at the gates screaming for change in order to make sure these transactions where the club has sold away it's future never happen again. But who am I kidding,we love the club too much to give up on it or to wish it harm. Ah, if only I were a simple souled AKB imbued with common sense, patience and trust life as an Arsenal fan would be so much easier - Post No. 27799
CaGooner 23:28pm 15th Aug 2012
Well, he's gone. Good riddance. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when his pissy attitude either pisses of Rooney or Fergie. Or when he comes back from Holland duty injured. Now we need to go invest that $24M wisely over the next week and keep Song in the process. Time to bring in m'Villa and Sahin. - Post No. 27800
Rorz afc 23:54pm 15th Aug 2012
So yeah he's on his bike, never mind hey the amount of times this has happened before and it's never really been a bad move unless you think of the what if's and what could of been's, if only's. Nonsense! The fact is he didn't want to be there so why keep him, he's done a job while he was with us and was fit and didn't cost half what we've sold him for, good luck to the guy I say as I stand by, no one man's bigger than the club! Times changing but we're still arsenal. come on you reds!!!! - Post No. 27801
Quillie 23:55pm 15th Aug 2012
When the dust settles, we will remember him as the player who almost single handedly got us into the champions league last season, against all the odds. Now he wants to go one better and win the league, and really, who can blame him? As for him going to United, well who cares? We're in la la land if we think they're our rivals! They haven't been since 2005. - Post No. 27802
Abhijeet 8:00am 16th Aug 2012
Now i do believe tht there is no respect and loyalty in world. its real sad what has happened,,, loyalty is jst for fans and not for players!!!!!,, Comon its jst not a job,, its pride,, its passion,, its love,, and RESPECT,, RVP has lost all of it,, i know there are no traters in this game,, BUT RVP will always be remembered as a bonker a stooge a buffon,, a self centered individual.. He would have been a LEGEND at AFC but jst another striker at MFC,, Wellback, Harnandez, Barbatov and etccc,, would be cursing RVP and Ferggiee,, LOL,, RVP now ur surrounded by ur enemiess,, who want you to FAIL,, and as a loyal ARSENAL fan i wud say,, ARSENAL,,, Till I Die,, - Post No. 27805
fab 10:26am 16th Aug 2012
Rvp has gone. So be it. Some of you go on about loyalty as if you expect it. In case you hadnt noticed this is football. A lucrative global commercial entertainment business. Stay loyal as fans and shout for Better performances. But be clear that players who are good enough to make more cash and achieve more success elsewhere will go. That goes for fans of Any club. Players are not fans. - Post No. 27814
GoonerRon 10:32am 16th Aug 2012
Do you know what, I don't begrudge RVP wanting to earn an extra £90k per week, over 4 years that's £18m so it would be foolish to say he shouldn't be swayed by cash. The thing that annoys me is how he went about it - his statement bought the club into disrepute and as an employee of Arsenal and captain of the team his comments were devisive and directly impacted our ability to realise the maximum market value for an asset we purchased, nutured and have probably paid over £20m in salary to. To dress up releasing the statement due to his love and respect for the Arsenal supporters and then going to Man U is an utter joke. I sincerely hope his time at Man U is a massive failure as a result. - Post No. 27815
Eddie the Parrot 10:48am 16th Aug 2012
Since Brady left in 1980 Arsenal have always been a selling club.Anelka Overmars Petit Vieira Cole Henry and Cesc the list goes on.Although some deluded AKB's like to believe we are big club we are not.We are a feeder club who sells its best players to bigger clubs no one can deny that. The evidence hits you in the face.The sad thing is the club hoodwinked the fans into convincing them that moving from Highbury would help us compete with the big boys.That is garbage.The Emirates was built to make money and lots of it for the board not to invest in the team.When a team that finishes 19 points behind a team then sells its best player to them what does that tell you?Just 8 years ago we were the Invicibles now we are also rans - Post No. 27816
MICK SCANLAN DUBLIN 12:03pm 16th Aug 2012
VAN PERSIE GONE AND ONLY A FOOL OF THE HIGHEST ORDER WOULD EVER PAY FOR A EXPENSIVE JERSEY AND PUT A PLAYERS NAME ON IT . MY SONS WINE JERSEY FOR THE LAST YEAR AT HIGHBURY WAS BINNED LAST NITE OVER RVP. PUT YOUR DOGS NAME ON IT OR FOR SALE ! MUCH BETTER IDEA OR CHEAPER AGAIN LEAVE IT BLANK - Post No. 27819
MIKE # 1 14:27pm 16th Aug 2012
I just can't believe the number of negative comments here. I'm 48, been a fan for 43 years, much of which we've been crap and uncompetitive. Double in '71, 3 cup finals 78-80 and a CWC final in 80 (we lost 3 of the 4). League titles in '89 and '91, both cups in '93, CWC in '94 and lost in final '95. Then came Wenger. frrom '89 to '05, unprecedented success in our lifetimes. Then came Abramovitch. Then the oilers. There are 3 trophies worth winning each year (for 3 of the last 6 yrs, Wenger wasn't even interested in the FAC). There are realistically 6 clubs with a good chance of winning them. 2 have more money than sense, 1 is owned by a group that is steadily trying to bankrupt them. One are a bunch of cocks with nothing goin for them. The other haven't looked like realistically winning the title since 1991 (except once maybe). We don't have a right to the top trophies. If it means borrowing, leveraging and risking the club (which Van Persie demanded), it's not a good idea imo. Nani, Kagawa, Welbeck are suddenly so much better than our players ??? They didn't even make it out of the C/L group last season. They can only play 2 forwards. PLEASE, instead of coveting what we don't have, look at what we do have. Get behind OUR team. We need a bit of luck and a bit of confidence and we will win something (I don't count the CC - even if we win it !!). C'mon people, stop being so negative and righteous. We're a great team, always competitve and whatever anyone says, no-one looks forward to playing us as an easy game. We may have some mental block to overcome, but EVERY one of the players that have left us have had it too. Instead of fighting to overcome it, they've jumped ship to go somewhere where others will do it for them. Go Gooners !!! - Post No. 27826
Mike # 1 16:08pm 16th Aug 2012
I mean Wenger from '98 to '05 !!!! - typing dyslexia. - Post No. 27829
GoonerGoal! 16:59pm 16th Aug 2012
Hey come on, stop whining! Yo swallowed all the Wenger bull****, but you AKB's always knew that we would lose RvP, and Wenger may not be finished yet. Song could yet be a Barcelona player by the end of the month according to Graham Hunter and Guillem Balague. Oh how that will confuse the Song-haters! I’m sure you AKB's are all ecstatic about £24million for RvP, but don’t expect any of it to be spent. What you think we have already spent it? Nope, we haven’t even spent the fees from Fabregas and Nasri yet. You must know the plan by now and it's nothing to do with football, it's all about making the balance sheet look as healthy as possible to increase the value of Kroenke's shares. I heard the AKB’s quasi-spokesperson Tom Watt saying today he was prepared to wait another four, five, six, seven years for Arsenal to win another trophy under Wenger. Looks like all you AKBs better line up to hand over your £1000’s for nothing then, but be aware London bookies are already making a book on who will leave next year… - Post No. 27830
Ronster 19:39pm 16th Aug 2012
Mike#1 ...try '98 and from '02 to '05 - Post No. 27835
jjetplane 19:50pm 16th Aug 2012
I usually display little hope this time of the year but Somehow I can see this present Arsenal team finishing above Manure, and still only making third which leaves Persie battling to keep a club in the CL. Ground van Dog methinks and who can not see VP and Shrek flat out and groaning by xmas. It really is the money and I reckon the auld boy is finally feeling the years. - Post No. 27836
MIKE #1 20:40pm 16th Aug 2012
Oh excuse me - we were sh!te from 99-02. We were 1 penalty and a nigel winterburn injury away from the double in 99. I supposed Bergkamp is crap b/c he missed it huh? We were 2 handballs away from the FA cup in 01 and lost the 00 uefa cup final on pens. We came 2nd in the league each year, all while we were rebuilding a team that won the double in 02 and went unbeaten in 04. The goalposts have moved with Chavs and Sh!tty. But if we were paying 75m interest every year and being floated on the NYSE this month, I'd be seriously worried - trophies or not. - Post No. 27838
ed 22:18pm 16th Aug 2012
So much for the 3 players coming in.2 are already on the way out RVP is gone Song off to Barca.So many believed the signings were to strengthen the team but now we know they were replacements.Arsenal will never speculate to accumulate.Its all about balancing the books.Maybe we should change the wage structure.And giving average young players long term contracts.two days away from the season still no back up keeper - Post No. 27841
Ronster 22:55pm 16th Aug 2012
Mike#1...runners up and near misses a plenty under Mee/Howe and Neill/Howe yet don't recall these honourable men earning the equivalent of £7 million a year and still being in a job after seven trophyless seasons.And while we're at it isn't it a disgrace that there's no statue of Mee and the great Don Howe never gets a mention on these pages? - Post No. 27842
Wombledin 0:31am 17th Aug 2012
Players want medals and glory. Do Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer and Berbatov regret their Man U experience? No way, they won medals and lifted trophies. RVP is hot, he rates himself and is quite rightly taking the risk of being a somewhat smaller fish in a bigger pond to win medals and trophies rather than be a huge fish in Wenger's goldfish bowl that is a continuous defensive leaking bucket. He's sick of banging in loads of goals only to watch keystone cops defending squander all his work. Hardly nuts at all...he'd be nuts to remain as the pearl amongst Wenger swine, just as Fabregas knew he'd be nuts to stay. - Post No. 27843
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