Robin van Persie will NOT renew his contract at Arsenal.
The 28-year-old Dutchman only has one more year left to run on his existing deal at The Emirates, but announced yesterday on his official website that he’s not thinking about extending his stay.
This is what Van Persie’s statement read:
‘This is an update for the fans about my current situation. I have kept quiet all this time out of respect and loyalty for the club and as agreed with Mr. Gazidis and Mr. Wenger, but since there is so much speculation in the media, I think it is fair for you guys to know what’s really going on at the moment.
‘As announced earlier this year I had a meeting with the Boss and Mr. Gazidis after the season. This was a meeting about the club’s future strategy and their policy. Financial terms or a contract have not been discussed, since that is not my priority at all.
‘I personally have had a great season but my goal has been to win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days.
‘Out of my huge respect for Mr. Wenger, the players and the fans I don’t want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.
‘I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I have decided not to extend my contract. You guys, the fans, have of course the right to disagree with my view and decision and I will always respect your opinions.
‘I love the club and the fans, no matter what happens. I have grown up and became a man during my time with Arsenal FC. Everybody at the club and the fans have always supported me over the years and I have always given my all (and more) on and off the pitch.
‘I am very proud of being part of this fantastic club for the last eight years. As soon as Mr. Gazidis is back from his two-week holiday in America further meetings will follow and I will update you if and when there are more developments.’
To be honest I am not at all shocked or surprised by this – I always thought that he wasn’t interested in staying.
Am I angered by his statement? Not particularly. He has given us eight years of his life and only had one exceptional season (the previous one) with us during this time. Don’t get me wrong, he is a world-class act and is our best player. However, no player is irreplaceable or bigger than Arsenal FC, not even Van Persie.
In addition, we already have ready-made replacements in Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud ready to step in, so we won’t be left in the lurch like we were last summer when Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri left the club.
I for one wish RVP the best in his future endeavours and hope that he seals a move abroad rather than stay in England.
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How many goals did Arsenal score per season for the last five seasons? Was last year a lot different than the others? We score goals not only because we have the greatest strikers rather it is because we have the best passing midfielders. Make sure we have Arteta, Wilshere and Song on the field next season and you will see more players scoring… This is not a disaster… We gonna see RVP celebrating not for his goals but when others score @ his next team ….
Its a loss no doubt. And i was realy disapointed at his statement.I remember years when he hardly pplayed a game so Im a little tired of people banging on about how he’s been here for 8 years. I think with injuries and the earlt part of his career ( bench player which is why he didn’t get injured) its probably more like 5 years worth. He’s cashing in on his last few years ( and ask yourselves…if you had the oppotunity to bank that kind of money would you turn it down?) and I dont blame him. But a word of warning to the clubs interested. He’s Injury prone and in recent years has become used to being the focus of all atack. No matter where he goes nect that will not be the case. Apart form the money there is a another reason he’s leaving…in a word Ramsey. Or more pointedly that Ramsey is not Rafael Van der Vart. Robin Pushed for us to sign him but Wenger refused and played Ramsey in that position, and in fairness he did not do well. The chance for Robin to break the goalscoring record this season was blown because Ramsey just would not pass the ball to him.
So get the money, get away from a teammate you dislike, maybe win something.
I can see his point of veiw. But for FFS Robin that statement was well out of order and so is thinking that you decide who the club sign or sell.
You will not do as well at other clubs and you have sullied your reputation with the Arsenal fans forever.We made you what you are.You seem quick to forget it.
I for one was expecting him to go, our captains seem to do that these days.
lets cash in on him now, we’ve had one season out of eight from him and carried him the rest of the time. maybe the fee will cover the medical costs.
I certainly don’t wish it on him but how long til the next injury lay off? I was wondering how he and Giroud would play together in the same team being both left footed players and thought Oliver was bought as a replacement. I for one agree with the poem I saw on one of the websites “just go” and the sentiment that we as fans are the only ones with loyalty. players come and go but ooh to be a …………..
i strongly feel we are being unneccesarily judgemental of the good intentions of this prolific player who to me sincerly has the best interest of we the fans who pay the highest fees for ticket n yet the board keeps serving us shit in person of the ramseys,squillaci almunia n d likes when we seriously need to signing the best of players on offer why dont you disgruntled fans take out time to read n digest mr usmanovs leter to the arsenal board over this very ugly scenario then come back here to give your opinion i feel the board has taken us for a ride too long n its time we all rise in one voice nthrow the shit back at the boards face my 2p.
Kroenke is a strategically inept brainless moron, who has only made money feeding off his wife s Walmart billions. Gazidis is an out of depth 3rd rate contracts lawyer. Hill wood a complete idiot. This greedy board is made up of ageing selfish idiots creaming off the profits from money we pay for seats, shirts and sky subs..the so called self sustaining model will fall apart as soon as we drop out of champions league, which we will very soon, just before all the new sponsorship deals are up for renewal. Prepare yourselves for Villa style mid table mediocrity, before our greedy owner and selfish board are forced to sell the club.
Paul dnt call Jenk n Ramsy midiocus, Rvp hs to wait to win smthg u cn neva force a trophy evn wid da best players in th world. Thy had best players bt thy were th poorest at Euros nt evn a single win. Trophies need patience ,undustndg n loyalsm to gt th right teamwork gel.
Narowly, the word ask Barca, man u, Chealsea, Mancity the meaning of Narowly as partaining last season.
It’s a shame he wants to leave, but I think Arsenal will keep him for the remaining year on his current contract, and let him leave (if he still wants to) at the end of next season.. He can leave on a ‘free’ then and get a massive signing on fee with whoever he joins plus a good salary.. I think RVP has too much personal pride to just see out his contract in the reserves, he will want to play in the first team and will want to do well next season to secure a move to a ‘top club’ in the summer next year.. All of our supporters who are now on these boards screaming for his blood, will quickly forgive him when he starts bagging a few more goals for us next season (as football fans the world over are a notoriously fickle bunch at the best of times).. If he grabs 25 plus goals for us next season and decides to walk away then, I reckon the fans that are slagging him off at the moment will possibly change their views on him, and he can then leave with his head held high having seen out his current commitment to the club.
loooooool had to laugh at that one guy saying arsenal the best club in the world and the pride of london, chelsea were champions league winners if im not mistaken, bye bye van pussyyy teams a pile of crap just like the fans.
Jim your just a big gay lion =D Club legend = Gavin Peacock, remember your roots jim