Arsenal saw off what was one of the worst summers in recent years. Annoying DNA calls and irritating agent talks had taken its toll on the club and left a deep impression on it.
There is possibly another waiting to happen. Robin van Persie’s current deal expires in the summer of 2014, which means he has just got over 18 months left on his deal at the Emirates. This contract extension may well and truly be the last big contract he is going to sign in his career, possibly one of the main reasons why he is refusing to open up at the moment.
Last year, around the same time, Nasri said that he was very keen to extend his stay at Arsenal and we all know what happened. Arsenal were accused of not beginning the talks early enough and when Wenger was asked when the ideal time was to discuss player terms, the Frenchman said:
‘Unfortunately the ideal situation in football does not exist often. The ideal situation is that he extends his contract but if he doesn’t you have to respect that. You know what is important is that he plays like he plays because we are all here to see special football players and he is a special football player.’
There is no doubt in anybody’s mind that Wenger & co. are desperate to tie the Dutch striker down to a new deal, and the Frenchman praised Van Persie’s performance as club captain and also defended his commitment to the club:
‘For me commitment isn’t how long you’re at the club, it’s as long as you’re there you give 100 per cent until the last day of your contract. That is what I call commitment. The rest is different. The length of contract is completely different. You have players with ten-year contracts who aren’t committed.’
Arsenal recently revealed great news that vice-captain Thomas ‘Achilles’ Vermaelen signed a new four-year deal with club, which undoubtedly brought a smile on many, if not all, Arsenal fans faces. However, will RVP follow? This is a very tricky question to answer.
Since Robin’s comeback in January he has been in lightning form. His scoring record is almost on par with the world’s best. So what is going on in Van Persie’s mind?
There is no need to talk about Arsenal’s trophy drought or big name departures and with this potentially being Van Persie’s last big contract of his life, I honestly feel that he won’t enter into talks before December.
Now the pressure is mounting on Wenger. Either of these two options should take effect:
1) Wenger should try to splash some cash in the winter transfer window and land a couple of big names.
Or
2) Arsenal need to improve and be within or thereabouts the top four before December when they sit down and talk with Robin.
In spite of all the news circulating Van Persie, he himself went public about his commitment to Arsenal FC:
‘I felt it was time to explain the story well and I think I did. I’m committed as I said this is my eighth season. If you can see one player who is committed it is me.’
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