Arsene Wenger ‘Confident’ Robin van Persie Will Sign New Deal

Arsenal  manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he is confident that Robin van Persie will be an Arsenal player next season.

As most will know by now, the Dutchman will enter the final year of his contract this summer and the Gunners hierarchy are keen on tying him down to a new deal in order to avoid a similar situation to that of Samir Nasri last summer.

Van Persie decided to delay contract negotiations until the end of the season, leading to increased speculation over his future, but Wenger is keen to get discussions finalised before this summers European Championships, which start on June 8th.

The Frenchman told Arsenal.com today that he is confident he will be able to convince the newly-crowned PFA & FWA Player of the Year to extend his contract, but also reminded everybody that the 28-year-old still has another year to run on his current deal, so is not free to leave at the end of the season.

When asked if he wants to tie the Dutchman down quickly when the season ends, Wenger told Arsenal.com:

“That’s what I will try to achieve,” said Wenger. “I am confident [he will stay] for two reasons. First of all I want to convince him to stay here and to extend his contract. Secondly he is not free at the end of this season, he has one year of his contract left anyway.”

I’m confident van Persie will sign an extension. He just doesn’t seem like a man who wants to leave. I think he just wants Arsene to tell him he’s going to sign a couple of proven players this summer and he’ll sign.

He’s settled in London and whenever you hear him talk, he seems very calm over the whole situation. It’s nothing like the Nasri saga, we could all tell he was simply after a big pay-day, but money isn’t the motivation for van Persie. He’s a family man who will put their happiness over anything else.

Anyway, there have been suggestions that the club would hold him to his final year if he does decide not to extend. This is a risky strategy but given RVP’s age and the fact he’ll have one year left on his contract, the potential fee we’d get for him this summer isn’t enough to warrant selling. He’s worth keeping for another year and losing for nothing next year, if it comes down to it. It would also send an important message that we’re not a ‘selling club’ and won’t be pushed around.

What do you think, will RVP extend his contract? Get involved in the comments section.