Wenger – Van Persie Will Stay

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident that captain Robin van Persie will be at the club next season, despite increasing speculation over his future.

The Dutch striker only has one year left on his current contract and has yet to agree to an extension after holding talks with Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis at the end of the season.

Several media reports have suggested the 28-year-old is threatening to end his eight-year stay at the Emirates after becoming disillusioned with the lack of silverware in recent years.

However, Arsene Wenger has been quoted in the Daily Express as saying he is ‘very confident’ his 30-goal striker will still be Arsenal next season, despite interest from the likes of Manchester City and Barcelona.

“I am confident that you will see Robin van Persie in the Barclays Premier League next season and I am very confident you will see him in red and white.”

Wenger brought RVP to England from Feyenoord in 2004 and the Frenchman has expressed his delight at how the striker has developed during his time in North London.

“I am happy and he must be proud. When you compare the Robin who arrived, from being on the bench at Feyenoord, to the player he has become today it is remarkable.”

People ask me many times what is the first quality of a football player and I say health. You would be surprised at how many players miss training sessions or games because they have problems with their body.

When they wake up, they must feel like, ‘Oh, I now must have a go’, which is not natural. A few of us have that talent and gift that you wake up in the morning and are ready and happy to go.

Your body must be capable to absorb everyday stress and that was a big problem for Robin for years.”

I seem to remember Arsene saying these kind of comments last summer when asked about Fabregas and Nasri, so forgive me for not getting too excited.

I’d love to share the managers optimism, but the more this saga goes on the less confident i am Van Persie will be at Arsenal next season. If he was going to sign an extension, surely he would have done it by now?

If he’s not going to sign, then i think it will be very difficult to keep him. The board have shown in the past they won’t risk losing valuable assets for nothing and if a decent bid comes in from say, Man City, then i’m not sure it will be rejected. Then it’s just down to whether RVP want’s to tarnish his legendary status at the Emirates or not.

Do you think Van Persie will still be at Arsenal next season?