On the back of an excruciating week and season as a whole for Arsenal fans, there could be some light at the end of a very gloomy tunnel in North London. It surrounds their talismanic captain Robin Van Persie and his future at the Emirates. Just where would the Gunners be without the stream of goals as scored by the Dutchman this term, in a side which more than ever needs a shot in the arm. Van Persie is reportedly ready to start preliminary negotiations surrounding his future at the club. It could just be the biggest deal that Arsenal make in years.
Arsenal fans haven’t had much to cling onto this season but the small token of Van Persie’s intentions to at least listen to the club’s stance, speaks volumes in the hearts and minds of all connected to the club.
Arsenal already pays their top earners significantly less than at other top Premier League clubs such as Manchester City whereby Samir Nasri found the grass isn’t always greener this summer. But Van Persie is undoubtedly a world class talent and at a time whereby Arsene Wenger needs him more than ever, the club are ready to break the bank and improve his pay packet to some £100,000 a week; a £20,000 advance on his current salary.
Arsenal indeed recouped some £55 million in the summer from the departures of messrs Fabregas and Nasri, and whilst the club continues to be linked with names such as Eden Hazard, Yann M’Vila and Matias Suarez, the first cash priority should be the keep hold of Van Persie, and build the squad around their captain.
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The Gunners keep finding themselves in this kind of transfer quandary whereby their best talents are being poached each summer and Van Persie could even find himself in a similar position to Nasri. This is as, if a new contract is turned down, there would be robust reasoning to keep hold of the striker and let him leave for nothing in 2013, as Arsenal fans all realise they need his attributes more than at any other time.
Arsenal fans would have experienced many jibes this season such as ‘one man team’ but amidst the juvenile nature of this chant, there is some credence there. The Gunners second highest scorer is Theo Walcott on just six goals and the overriding notion is that when Van Persie doesn’t score, Arsenal simply doesn’t win.
Van Persie himself is currently enjoying an injury free season; something of a rarity during his time in North London, and his consecutive participation has finally yielded the goal tally many always thought he was capable of after signing from Feyenoord some eight years ago.
But with a CV of injury snags and an age of 29, despite his scintillating form, potential summer suitors may not pay as much as you would think for the Dutchman’s services.
Sticking with Arsenal may be his best bet, but Van Persie and Arsenal fans alike will desperately want to see mass change this summer, with the likes of the underachieving Djourou, Fabianski and Park Chu Young shipped out and experienced pro’s brought into the ranks; something as discussed recently be ex-Gunners Dennis Bergkamp and Emmanuel Petit.
So the question remains; deal or no deal? For Arsenal and Robin Van Persie, this deal could be the biggest in years.
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