Posted on Friday, 6th July 2012 by Iain Culverhouse
Following Robin van Persie’s latest revelation stating he is not going to renew his contract, former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson had this to say on the matter:
‘Not many players leave Arsenal, very rarely, and don’t regret it.
It’s an unbelievable club. I’d have liked him to stick it out. I’m a bit gutted really. He’s burnt his bridges.
‘If he comes back and they don’t sell him the fans are going to slaughter him. They’ll be devastated. He’s a top-drawer player. World class.’
Merson is right. There are players that go on to regret leaving Arsenal, but recently we have had Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas both enjoy success following their departures. Yes Nasri’s success could be put down to one-last minute league win, but he still lifted a trophy at the end of the campaign.
I don’t know what is going to happen from here on out to be honest. Yes Robin is likely to leave the club and I hope the deal is pushed through as quickly as possible. I do not want him at the club any longer. This is purely because I don’t want it affecting the start of our season like the previous one.
We all would have liked to seen this sorted out prior to the start of the Euros, but when the announcement came stating no deal had been made for RVP it spoke volumes about his future. As it was well documented, Arsenal issued a media ban which added fuel to the fire that the Dutchman was going and the club went ahead and signed Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.
Will RVP regret his decision to leave Arsenal?
I hope so.
It was proven at the Euros that without the service, which he has been used to at Arsenal, the goals won’t come like a lot of the media expected them too.
Will he receive the same service at Manchester City?
I doubt it.
This is not to say that City are not a talented side, but they are very ego driven and I don’t think, if he moved to City, he would regret it.
Is it a shame that Van Persie has burnt his bridges at Arsenal the way he has done. Yes he has alienated a huge amount of the Arsenal faithful who stuck by him injury after injury. Let’s not forget he’s only had ONE successful injury free season in eight. In this time span Robin averaged just 34.75 games a season, compared to the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, who averaged 37.82 over 11 years and Thierry Henry, who averaged an amazing 46.13 games over eight campaigns.
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Tags: Dennis Bergkamp, Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud, Paul Merson, Robin Van Persie, Thierry Henry
Posted in Tabloid Talk, View From The Sphere | Comments (33)
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July 6th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Judging by the tone and nature of your remarks, one would have to ask if this a campaign you are waging against Robin van Persie?
Let us remember that all he said was that he is unable to extend his contract. It does not mean he is leaving since he did himself say that there would be more to discuss when Gazidis returns from holiday. He has said the issue was not money. It never was. All he has asked for are reassurances about the desire of the club’s board to pursue trophies, something that I’m sure you’ll have noticed has been woefully lacking since our days at Highbury. At this stage of his career I think it is not unreasonable that van Persie should be thinking about his chances of winning trophies at Arsenal. It seems that some fans do not see this as a priority at the club but instead think of consolation places in the Champions League as being the only prizes within the reach of our club. I for one wish that we did aim for higher honours. What would be the point of settling for second, third or even fourth best?
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Iain Culverhouse Reply:
July 6th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
It has nothing to do with a campaign against him, I am like most Arsenal fans disappointed with the way things have happened.
Arsenal have brought in Podolski and Giroud so we cannot say we aren’t trying to win trophies. In my honest opinion If RVP wanted to sign he would have done. It was only a year ago he said he wanted to win trophies here and wouldn’t go elsewhere.
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July 6th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
Depends. If he left for football, he will. If for money, he won’t. You talk of Nasri’s success, what really was his influence in that trophy win? Very little.
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Davi Reply:
July 6th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Also Cesc’s “success” was the Copa Del Rey and 3 competitions (2 of which came from 1-off games; “Charity Shield” equvialent and Euro super cup) which were entirely based on the previous season’s success and 2 of which won’t be available to them next year. Barca were a shadow of the side they were before he joined. The thing is that these 2 players are young enough to win more later, but in that case, they could have done it at Arsenal.
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July 6th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
To be honest, I don’t bloody care. What counts for him it’s his bank account anyway. Otherwise he could have stayed and win trophies with Arsenal.
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July 6th, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Depends who he joins. Put it this way, he won’t win medals with us under the current structure and board. SO if he joins Man City, more than likely he won’t regret his decision. Don’t forget that Wenger said not so long ago, He doesn’t measure success by the number of trophies wona and basically went on about the number of years he has successfully qualified for the champions league. What’sthe point if these days we won’t get further than the quarters, unless lucky with the draw. I din’t like the way it finished with Nasri, but he has at least got a premiership medal, and who knows for going forward. What has RvP got to show last 7 years? Good luck to him, i don’t blame him. I blame Wenger and the board and their lack of ambition. I’m behind Usmanov, all the way!
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Davi Reply:
July 6th, 2012 at 8:41 pm
“he won’t win medals with us under the current structure and board”
We already had CLEARLY the 3rd best squad at the end of the season, given that once the additions were made we stormed up the league following our worst ever start, and the additions of Podolski and Giroud improved us significantly. We may not win the PL title THIS coming season but we could easily win something with RVP still there, and could then go for the title the following year.
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Tony Reply:
July 7th, 2012 at 1:08 am
defo this has to change cant be loosen are best player [captins] every year its such a shame the team we would have had no wonder we cant win a trophy
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July 6th, 2012 at 6:17 pm
i said it before, and i will say it again….RVP is a cunt. I would keep him and make him 5th/6th choice striker, then train him to the point of injury!!!!
Then let him go on a free!!!
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benno Reply:
July 8th, 2012 at 10:12 am
totally agree
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July 6th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Let me also add – the biggest cunt at Arsenal is Gazidis – he is no friend of the club, or to its supporters. He should be the one the fucks off!!
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benno Reply:
July 8th, 2012 at 10:12 am
totally agree again
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July 6th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
From what i heard from alot of players who have been at Arsenal the answer is definetly ‘YES’ Arsenal is a club that has been good to the players that have been loyal to the club.
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July 6th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Does Flamini Cesc Nasri Kolo Clichy regret leaving Arsenal?????
NO THEY SURE DON’T THEY ALL WON TROPHIES……
I rest my case…
We are seen as (and are) the ultimate football school for players to move on to try and win trophies and that in itself is very damaging to our club…
The exodus ain’t over next Wallcott and this summer or next vermaelen…. Gazidis and the board need to be removed and take Wenger with them!
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Davi Reply:
July 6th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Flamini, Nasri and Kolo were “Grimandi”s to their respective sides but had they all stayed they could have been important players in major wins with Arsenal. If they hadn’t all jumped ship wouldn’t we have a better squad now?!
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July 6th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
‘Not many players leave Arsenal, very rarely, and don’t regret it.”
is a statement of the past!!!
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July 6th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Wake up Arsenal!
Do not let this True Arsenal Hero Go!
All RvP wanted to do was reason with the BOARD to remove the “Losers Tag” and set a goal to start winning again!
Now is that what the majority of fans have been crying out ever season for?????
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July 6th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
there’s nothing to be done to change how he feels, we can only pick ourselves back up, get boatloads of cash for him and rebuild. no point shedding anymore tears over him. he’s crocked anyways, this was a lucky season
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July 6th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
If he stays for another season and sees out his contract (which i believe will happen), and is big enough to handle the inevitable booing and bad mouthing he’s going to get from certain sections of the Arsenal faithful, and manages to grab a few goals early in the season for us, the unhappy fans among us will soon forgive him (as most of them are a fickle bunch at the best of times)… It’s also in RVP’s best interests to do well next season as if he does ultimately decide to leave on a free next summer, then he’ll want to go to a decent club, that will pay him a massive signing on fee and a competitive salary… If RVP does all of the above and can put in another great season for Arsenal, I think he can walk out of the Emirates after his final game with his head held high and hopefully his Arsenal reputation intact..
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Tony Reply:
July 7th, 2012 at 1:11 am
(as most of them are a fickle bunch at the best of times)…thanks for that your no better than rvp u muppet
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July 6th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
We seem to forget the youth we brought in to replace Cesc spent the latter part of the season playing reserves football!
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July 6th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
He wont move to City. They have Mario, Tevez, Agrero and Dzeko (well, if he doesn’t leave).
Mario is at a peak time where he will start every game next season.
RVP will not go to italy. The competition is low.
He’s most likely moving to Spain. I’d bet he’s going to slide right in at Barcelona or Real.
I’d even say he’ll be at ManU before City
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July 6th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Much as I would have liked Robin Van Persie to stay at Arsenal, I do not think it will be a disaster if he leaves. He was not great in the last few games of the season and pretty terrible for Holland in Euro 2012, showing all the signs of a player with his mind elsewhere a la Nasri.
Approaching 29, RVP is not a youngster and can he go another season without injury. We should get as much as we can from him, but please, please Mr. Wenger spend it on strengthening the squad even more. I don’t know how much truth there is in the rumour, but I would love us to sign an experienced goalkeeper like Lloris as I still think Szczesny needs more experience before he is truly our No.1. With the signing of Podolski and Giroud, we are now not in the desperate situation of only having one striker on the books. I still hope that Gervinho will come good and Walcott sign a new contract and continue to improve. Therefore RVP was already alienating the fans by not committing to stay, so let him go; no player is bigger than our great club and like others before him may find that the grass is not greener elsewhere
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July 6th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
There is a 1 month and half before the transfer window slams shut. A lot of things have to happen between now and then. We have had a lot of U-turns in contract negotiations and if he does leave as long as it’s not to another English club then we wish him the best of luck. The problems at Arsenal will not go away if he stays or goes, the problems will only go away if we get rid of the deadwood players and bring in new fresh talent and quality players. There is not a lot wrong with Arsenal squad but the weaknesses let the squad down time and time again. This comes with depth of quality and a lack of rotation and competition for places.
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July 6th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
I 4got about robin van persie now even if he stays to end of season I won’t take intrest in him. Where the hell are the signings 2 before window opened brilliant but we just bein linked to evryone urry up and buy b4 pre season whether he stays or goes
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July 6th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
It’s a ridiculous thing to sat really. Do you say to your mates I hope you don’t regret taking your new job ? None of the Man City brigade would have regrets Cesc will have no regrets, why shoul RVP. If you are not happy at your job you simply move on. people have been doing it for 150 years
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July 6th, 2012 at 11:56 pm
For me. Robin lost all credit with that ridiculous statement on his website (and probably written by his agent, as I am Dutch also I can not see Robin getting all that crap together…). Either stay or leave, what was the point of making those statements?
And he was also crap at the EK.
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July 7th, 2012 at 1:00 am
This Board will not buy unless we first sell a few players, so unless the incoming players price tag is £750.00 and age 16!
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July 7th, 2012 at 4:21 am
All van Persie had to do was keep his mouth shut and wait. I don`t know who wrote that dreadful script but he doesn`t come across as being his own man. Who`s pulling the strings and why?
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July 7th, 2012 at 5:26 am
Get him out quick impossible for him to stay now no way he can play for us this season 29 another injury and were stuffed cash in now
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July 7th, 2012 at 6:41 am
Let RVP simply move on. The only thing that is permanent in this world is change. We wish him an injury free spell where he wants to go to. Gunnerz will achieve next season. Up gunnerz!
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July 7th, 2012 at 9:26 am
If robin was ever goin to sign he would of as soon as they offered him a new contract mid-way thu last season wenger new this why do you think we have brought 2 new forwards and not just the 1 as back up. I also think that mc29 will play alot more next season and think he will do well after all he did well first off then RVP10 started to hit form middle of 10-11 season and it just carryed on in 11-12 season MC29 has never had a sniff hes not floped hes had no chances thats all. As for the dribble ive read on other sites are we really goin to waste 12 million on a back up keeper ithink not ill eat my pants if that happens i know wenger hell spend prob 500k on almunia v2. I see both with rvp issue at the club and if you asked yourself what would you do if a rival firm came for you offered you more money and a greater chance of susess at your new job????? simple isnt it the club as invested alot of time on RVP What really sticks on me is WENGER SHOWS Players Loyalty but none of these players EVER SHOW ANY BACK MF17 AH13 CF4 SN8 EA25 TH14 PV4 Most people reading this would Give THERE BALLS FOR WHAT YOU GUYS HAD and would gladley play for 1 tenth of what these guys get
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July 7th, 2012 at 10:59 am
at this point in time weve spent 23 million and when RVP goes it should be for over 30 million, making a net profit (again) of 7 million. Its not a surprise is it that every season there is a net profit on transfers. RVP is only a part of that system. Its welcomed by the board thats only interested in profit despite what wenger publicly spins to the contrary.
RVP has slugged it out last season making the difference between arsenal coming 7th and 4th…virtually winning a dozen or so games on his own. He would have loved to finish his career at arsenal but why should he play with the likes of djourou, squillacci, diaby and other deadwoods that nullify his talents when they are instrumental in losing games. He is a top quality star performer and its appropriate he leaves to play in a team challenging for trophies not some money-obsessed club only interested in qualifying for champs league to reap the money that entry produces.
Fans should be questioning the ambition of the club and not stupidly blaming RVP. Its immature and not reasoned out with any intelligence.
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