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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Am quite disappointed at most arsenal fans because they seems to shy away from the better truth. We all know that Ivan Gazidis and Kronke are selfish idiots and only care about their pockets at the expense of the fans happiness. Every man want to accomplished future. There is no point staying with a club that is not ambitious like arsenal fc. RVP is 28 years and he has just little years ahead in his football carrier.CESC, NASRI and CLICHY left last year and can boast of trophies within the short period. that wouldn’t have happened if they still remain with less ambitous clud called arsenal. Let call spade a spade, we need to uphold the truth or else, we will not achieve champions league position next session. Or have you people forgotten that we narrowly qualified last session. The truth must be told.
Its all about money and always will be
Football has changed and maybe its time for us all to see while clubs pay stupid wages we or anyone else can not compete. Its an industry ,we turn the product out and sell to the biggest bidder ,whats wrong with that. The supporter matters not and the quicker we understand that the better.
First, he may still be playing for us next season, so lets go easy on the hate.
Second, last time he extended his contarct there was a concern re the “ambition” of the club & the quality of the signings,hence the “again” bit in his statement
“…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.”
This is not a new concern of his. He’s been mugged off once with the boards lies about quality signings & doesnt want more of the same.
I can understand the frustration of being a top player but having to play alongside average players or in a squad with no depth.
If he plays for the club for one more year I’ll be happy, but equally if the club gets £20+ million for him from a non EPL team & it’s spent on a quality striker, I’d be happy with that too.
Arsenal should keep hold of RVP wether he signs an extension or not, nd sign more star players for him.
Well Arsenal will forever live with or without RVP, we have existed over the years without him. LONG LIVE ARSENAL FC AND HIS FOLLOWERS.
RVP is a traitor. Arsenal stood by him when he was injured. He has one good season after struggling for seven years and he suddenly thinks that he is Messi. A one season wonder! Sell him and let him rot on the Man City bench with Nasri
If we luk it in de other way we dont hav to crucify RVP for his action, y wudnt he leave wen stingy board n manager dont want to spend money on quality playas who wil win truphies. he has to move somewhere else where he wil has medals for himself.
Firs of all gooners we need to ask where was Usmanov when Kronke was buying all his shares?
Everyone says money talks regarding footballers so why didnt Usmanov put his money where his mouth is and buy the club outright…he can afford it!!!
Its so easy to say the right things when your not in the hot seat, just ask opposition politicians!!!
Now on to our captain.
Why doesnt he tell us what it is exactly that Arsene and the board do not agree with.
Again its easy to hide behind a smokescreen of words and platitudes whilst wringing ones hands.
When you look at how Adams, Henry, Bergkamp and Wrighty (to name a few) respected our club and supporters, it makes me sick to read what Persie has said.
He has left the club, Arsene and the board open to ridicule by his statement leaked to the media before Arsenal knew anything about it.
What a cowardly, irresponsible and backstabbing thing to do.
All this rot about wanting to win things when he has only just manged to give us one full seasonsince he signed on.
W have so called gooners blogging that Diaby is a waste of space as he is always injured, but RVP seemed untouchable because last season he was doing what he had been payed to do for the last eight years…score some goals!!
What I suggest we do is as follows:
1. Do not sell him.
2. Play him alongside/with our two new full international strikers and monitor his performance/attitude.
3. If he doesnt perform to the level he obviously thinks he can drop him to the reserves.
4. If he starts to cause trouble after that put him on gardening leave util next season when he is 30 and out of form/condition.
I think this man is a disgrace to his family (remember what his wife and mother said about Arsenal and their support of him?.
After all the support the club, supporters and Arsene have given this man I can only think of one name for him…JUDAS.
By the way, if Walcott starts trying it on, lets do the same to him.
Its about time we showed these mercenaries what to do and where to go!!!
On fifa 12 i tried giroud first instead of van persie but after that i found out that podolski is the better option
Come on Gooners are we really concerned about it i seen him at a coca cola tournament in amsterdam i was with a welsh team and i played cech in one game and a young van persie in another and i said the two would be terrific 4 arsenal he was like balorena and to my suprise he was signed pity not Cech though. He gave his all and if worst come too worst he goes our brand of football will unearth another w/class talent we already ave a host of in waiting suitors and signed a man whos is more prolific than Alan(the master)Shearer at international stage and hes just old enough to drive an artic lorry, you see what im saying Wenger has gone for a more majestic squad with Arteta Senior Ox a hybrid of fab and Nasri combined and hes English,Wilshere our own David Batty (i’ve always wanted one of those =D)and if fit the closest player in the world to Zinedine Zidane Abou Diaby i know people will laugh at that statement but i constantly trawl matches all over the world looking at talent and hes the closest player too follow the methods of the best midfielder too grace the game two years with no injuries he would be master of his craft he is that good and Monsieur Wenger knows this Song is more Alonso than Makele (alonso has less discipline) dont even argue that one he plies his trade in the Barry Butlin’s League which is La liga(Champions league friendly in my opinion) so let him go Wenger dont get some exotic ladybird with some sense of grandeur get someone who actually supports and loves this club ala a certain Dean Sturridge, Micah Richards and maybe strength in depth some one like a certain Gunners fan P scharner he scores and fights like fuck he aint easy on the eye but Y.Benayoun dispeled that myth for me they play passionately,and also he plays number of positions, fuck off walcott bring in dempsey or hoilett or both even or landon donavon but my favourate is seb larsson for giroud could be a bit special and play ox in fab role while wishere gets better and they could play Ramsay in false nine role in carling,fa cup games he got every thing to play there trust so see there is a future and let me tell you the last star too leave that left me gutted was Overmars better than giggs in my opinion and he was shit hot in nineties believe no more 1 word FORWARD AFC
fook the haters when the dust settles we are the only club who are in prime position to take over Manutd and liverpool and it will take what 7-9 to over haul there league title amount once fergie goes manutd will turn into Villa and Celtic Full of shit and catholics im one myself by the way Afc