Robin Van Perise – Could This Spell The End?

Manchester City have already paid over £60 million for four Arsenal players; Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri, but according to the Daily Mail, the Premier League leaders are prepared to give Arsene Wenger another £40m by bidding for Arsenal’s captain, Robin van Persie next summer.

This was inevitable. Since the Dutch striker began the season, carrying his immense form over from the end of last term to score 38 goals in 42 games, rumours of a departure were painfully clear in the distance. The fact that City have all the money they wish to spend, as well as a disgruntled striker ready to depart in Carlos Tevez, only adds weight behind the argument that Mancini is preparing to move for a 28 year-old van Persie.

Wenger was forced to sell both Clichy and Nasri last summer because their contracts were about to run out and both wanted a move away from the Emirates. The Arsenal manager clearly did not want to sell his best players in the summer, as he frantically attempted to have their contracts renewed, but his hand was forced.

With Robin van Persie, the situation is slightly different. This time Wenger is dealing with a player who has a deep set loyalty to Arsenal which goes back a number of years – years which have seen him grow into a world class professional and now captain of the club. It may all come down to money once again, but Van Persie doesn’t seem the sort to have his head turned so easily. However, unless the Gunners can persuade the Dutchman they are still a competitive force on the pitch, it could spell the end of Van Versie’s time at the Emirates.