Thoughts on The Van Persie Contract Situation

Top of the Morning to y’all

Talks on van Persie’s new contract commenced on Wednesday and news is that the talks have broken down and the striker has reported to the Dutch squad for the Euros without signing a new contract. Nobody from either camp has come out to give details of what transpired in the meeting but what baffles me is that long before the season ended, Robin has disclosed how much he would like to stay and he would sit down with the manager and Ivan Gazidis over a cup of tea to discuss his contract and on Wednesday, this all important cup of tea which has the potential to define the Arsenal squad for the next couple of seasons was had and obviously after the talks, an agreement has not been reached. Something in me says this is not due to financial reasons even though it might be a factor but I feel the bone of contention here is not money but trophies.

 In Van Persie’s entire career at Arsenal, he only has an FA cup winners medal to his name and as he enters the twilight of his career, am sure he wants to put this aright. Yes this is his first full season with us and we all are a testament to his abilities and who knows how many trophies we might have won if he had had a full season when we had Cesc Fabregas in the squad. With all of the criticisms levelled at the doorstep of Theo Walcott, he was able to provide 12 assists for Robin now imagine if Fabregas was in the squad, he would probably be gunning for the award of the top marksman in Europe with Messi and I think that's exactly what he wants. To be among the greats, win laurels and at the end of his career, he can look back and say; I won this and this and this. He obviously can’t do it on his own and he needs the club to assure him that they can match his level of ambition and this is where something has to give. Something has to change, someone has to compromise or else we risk losing one of the greatest strikers in the modern game if we don’t start to do things differently.

Like I said in my last post, we have some good players out on loan that will be coming back to join the squad and I thing that's why Arsene has predicted a quiet summer in terms of transfers and am sure the Van Persie camp is having none of it. We can’t have more than 25 squad players and having that filled with the likes of Chamakh and Park is not going down well with the captain and obviously the Podolski signing is not enough to convince him and we need to sign more quality players.

Most fans believe Robin owe it to the club and the fans to sign a new deal for staying with him throughout his time being injured and for keeping faith in him. This is a fair and valid argument but people tend to forget that Robin is 28 and will be 29 by August and this is sure bet going to be his last lucrative contract he will get anywhere and also his chance to win as many medals as possible and he dosent think this current crop of players can achieve that.

Most people need to think like Robin, put themselves in his shoes to understand what he is going through, we have seen Wenger’s youth development policy over the years come through and though it’s made us be able to stay afloat as a club after building a new stadium and all, we all agree that this system has fallen short in the trophy department and players want to win trophies because it’s those moments that stay with them when they hang their boots.

I have always said and still believe that Robin loves the club and it’s only because he loves the club that he wants to succeed with the club and no one should question his loyalty. On the other hand though, if the club feel that his demands might jeopardise their financial structure, we might just have reached an impasse in this issue. There is also the option of letting him run down his contract and leave for free next season but does anyone think Silent Stan will let him go free next year when he can get up to 25million for him this summer?  Honestly, if Robin leaves because of this issue, I will not blame him but my problem lies in the fact that we always seem to strengthen our opponents more every season and that makes it more difficult for us to win trophies.

The media is awash with news this morning that City are ready to make a 25million bid and 250k per week package and some even went as far as suggesting that he has already made up his mind to join them. Can you imagine the way these cretins think? The only thing not said is that Arsenal has already accepted the bid and he will join up with his new teammates after the Euros. These rumour mongers could have their own fantasy league where they do deals and play league matches and every other things that are done during a proper season from the comfort of the rocking chairs in the backyard of their houses. They are so good at it. But unfortunately, the dynamics of Arsenal is such that we seem to keep on fuelling them with juicy news to constantly fill their columns and web pages and generating tonnes and tonnes of clicks for them.

Truth is that I would rather have Robin go to Spain or Italy than join City. It would be heart breaking seeing him in their colours.

In other news, Jack Wilshere will undergo a minor knee procedure in his left knee in the next few days. I hope he recovers fully before the new season kicks off as we really missed him in the season past.

That's all for now folks, be right back on Monday for a fresh package and lets all pray RvP signs a new contract after the Euros.

God bless the Arsenal, Iree o