Arteta Says Van Persie Will Stay, Does He Know Something We Don’t?

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta is convinced team mate Robin van Persie will stay at the Emirates beyond this season, despite doubts over the Dutchman’s future.

Van Persie’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2013 and has put off extension talks until the end of the season, prompting some to prematurely question whether he is ready to quit the club in the summer.

However, Arteta is quoted by ESPN as saying he can’t see his team mate leaving the Emirates, but insists if the Dutchman does leave then we’ll have to just get on with it.

“I can’t really see him going. But if he does, you have to continue.” Arteta is quoted as saying by ESPN.

It’s interesting for a team mate to come out and comment on another players future like this. Usually, when there is doubt over the future of a team mate, they just say something like “Robin will make up his own mind and do what is best for him”. So for Mikel to openly say he doesn’t think RVP will leave is encouraging.

But where has Arteta got this impression from? Is it just a gut feeling? Has he heard whispers around the Emirates corridors that the striker is going to sign on? Or has Robin personally told him he’s likely to stay?

It could mean nothing at all, but i’m going to stay optimistic on this one and take it as a good sign that a team mate is confident Van Persie will stay. If Arteta’s confident, then why shouldn’t the fans be? He should know a lot more about the situation than we do after all.

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