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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Also when do the supposed “fair play” rules begin to affect Citeh’s spending????
Disappointing….no better than Nasri. RIP
Listen guys stop focusing on the wrong things, read Aliser Usmanovs open letter to the board then have your say.
If you re angry it should be with the board NOT the players because the board only sanction the purchase of cheap mediocre players,Ramsey,Jenkinson,Squillaci etc etc not established quality players. They are only interested in qualifying for the champions league in order to keep the revenue flowing & going on pre season tours whilst our season ticket prices are the highest in the country. They know we cannot win anything with this strategy. Something has to change or we will indeed become a midtable team like liverpool.
I totally agree with u and usmanov ,,, its about time board and wenger wake up , wenger if not for anything but his reputation , for 7years not a single trophy…. Its about time also u fan fan in England do something and prove to them u are not happy , we are not happy the things are going… The club no long have enthusiastic spirit ogre winin trophies , but only to qualify for champion’s league… I respect vpersi and his action, something needs to be done , befor things get worse…
I will not want us fans to crucify RVP for his action but let us look at the issues dispassionately. This is a guy who has spent 8 years with a club that has no ambition. A club that is satisfied being third in the league and does not show any ambition to improve by getting quality players should not frustrate the career of players. RVP is not the only person to want to leave for the same reason of lack of trophies. Henry did and we did not crucify him. More will do so in future as long as the present board and Wenger maintain this policy. Who knows, RVP’s action could be the venom Arsenal needs to acquire a solution to this lack of ambition.
Sorry mate just to correct you, Henry did not leave Arsenal for lack of trophies he won two league titles and three FA cups with Arsenal. RVP only has one FA Cup
The sale of RVP to Manchester City will increase the amount received in player sales from their oil sheik to £100m. Let them pay off our new stadium. Arsenal football club will be at the top of the English game long after the sugar daddies have deserted their hobby football clubs. Never forget Gooners what a proud history our club has. Each generation
of our fans have enjoyed success since the 1930s. Let the Citeh fans have their day in the sun. God knows they’ve earnt it. They day will come when they are in the 1st division again and unable to pay the council for their rent. In the meantime Gooners will continue to pack out our magnificent stadium competing against the best teams in Europe. Wilshere, chamberlaine, podolski, theo, Arteta, giroud, gervino, song, rosicky, Vermalen, sagna . We will have a good team next year without RVP.
Is it only me who is hearing the following conversation in my nightmares?:
Robin: “Well Darren, you´re my agent – what do you think I should do?
Darren: “Robin – its up to you but there is a major shareholder at the club who thinks it would be better for you health if you moved on. He knows you are injury prone, and believes there is a strong possibility that if you play for Arsenal next season the next injury could be career threatening! And then there´s your wife and family …………..”
Robin: “Don´t leave me much option does he? Pity, I loved playing for Arsenal.”
If only Arsenal had kicked out Arsene Wenger years ago, it will not come to this. Pity.
We keep lamenting the departures of our best payers and the board are unconcerned about it. Come on guys, these players know more than we, the fans. How come our stars leave the club in their best pairs every end of season, yet no body sees anything wrong with the board and management, instead we tongue lash the quitting players, except Nasri who truely deserved what he got from the fans. We keep saying we’re all behind Vp during the days he was more fragile than a drinking tumbler, yes and rightly so, but as fans don’t we think that Vp has been completly loyal and has bled for Arsenal. He has been more loyal and passionate about the club more than any other arsenal player, he single handedly carried our club into champions league this season. If Vp were to spend eternity in arsenal and maybe when he is 50yrs old, decides to leave arsenal, we’ll still not be happy. I no there is no better time to say goodbye and it hurts badly to watch one of your best players, leave and I hate myself for defending him but it has to be said. Our club has become a complet football academy whose only aim is to maximize profit without wanting trophies which will in a way compensate the players for their hard works. If Rvp styr in arsenal, he will have nothing to show for his loyalty. For a captain to ask the management to sign more world class players is hardly a wrong or greedy request cos if the club wins trophies, he won’t take it home as it’s a club’s property. Henry made the same request before he left for Barcelona. Vp is not getting any younger, his request is not money, so let the board grant that simple but honest request and invest on players otherwise Theo, Verminator and Song may be the next online to move with Rvp . The board are blinded by their profits from the club. Anyway Rvp is still up there with the best no matter what happens and as a noble man has spoken up rather than do a Cesc or Nasri. Well done Vp but if you can, pls sign and stay with us but where you chose not to stay, I wish u the best. You’re indeed a gunner.
Most of you FIFA players think the real world is a PS3 game.Some of you want to adopt a Russian criminal as your God.
Robin just cost Arsenal 20 million pounds. No one has to negotiate with Arsenal about a transfer fee.That cash could have been used to buy a world class striker. He has screwed us twice over.
His attitude in the dressing room will sour the entire team.He may be used to the infighting on the Dutch team, but this is Arsenal.
Sell him NOW, before the dressing room becomes like the French shitty attitude. Sell him NOW, don’t even allow him back at the Emirates, send his boots Fed-Ex.
If Van Persie wants to leave that’s fine, but maybe the club should turn round to him and say that they have only accepted bids fron Anzhi Makahala and Shanghai so take your pick go and win the title in Russia or China?