On Wednesday the 4th of July, Robin Van Persie issued a statement on his personal website, robinvanpersie.com. Here is the statement in full :
This is an update for the fans about my current situation. I have kept quiet all this time out of respect and loyalty for the club and as agreed with Mr. Gazidis and Mr. Wenger, but since there is so much speculation in the media, I think it is fair for you guys to know what’s really going on at the moment.
As announced earlier this year I had a meeting with the Boss and Mr. Gazidis after the season. This was a meeting about the club’s future strategy and their policy. Financial terms or a contract have not been discussed, since that is not my priority at all.
I personally have had a great season but my goal has been to win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days. Out of my huge respect for Mr. Wenger, the players and the fans I don’t want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.
I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I have decided not to extend my contract. You guys, the fans, have of course the right to disagree with my view and decision and I will always respect your opinions.
I love the club and the fans, no matter what happens. I have grown up and became a man during my time with Arsenal FC. Everybody at the club and the fans have always supported me over the years and I have always given my all (and more) on and off the pitch. I am very proud of being part of this fantastic club for the last 8 years. As soon as Mr. Gazidis is back from his 2-week holiday in America further meetings will follow and I will update you if and when there are more developments.
Robin van Persie
So it is clear that Robin Van Persie would like to leave the club that took him out of the backwaters of football, stood by him through injury, and moulded him into the player he is today. When Arsene Wenger plucked him from the reserve team of Feyenoord, he had earned a reputation that closely emulates that of a certain Mario Balotelli, with a fiery temperament and a serious attitude towards his coaches. But Wenger installed himself as a fatherly figure towards the young Dutchman. Even after being sent off against Southampton in a 1-1 draw that ended Arsenal's hope of retaining the title, Wenger was by his side. Even after his countless injuries, most of them suffered when Van Persie was on international duty for Oranje, Wenger was by his side.
And just how is he repaid?
Only with a strongly worded letter stating that Van Persie's ambitions do not match his own, effectively saying that his management does not match that of gaffers across Europe's top leagues.
What exactly is being ambitious in the modern game? In Van Persie's point of view, ambition is conveyed through how much money is being spent to improve the club. As with Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri. So because Arsene Wenger doesn't spend a tonne of money like Manchester City and Chelsea do, that makes him less ambitious? Come on Robin, give me a break. If you've paid attention to The Boss in his 16 year tenure, you'd see that his philosophy of buying players cheaply and developing them has brought about 3 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups and 4 Community Shields. Not a bad record. And does finishing 3rd make the club a less ambitious club? If you step outside of the box, you'd see that the club has finished 3rd in the world's most demanding league, behind an ever outstanding Manchester United and a Manchester City team who have spent a total of £481,850,000 on a new squad over 3 years. We beat off the challenge of our North London rivals, Tottenham, completely obliterated the threat of Chel$ea. And Liverpool. Well. I don't think we need to worry about them for a while.
So now, after 18 months of his best football, Van Persie now thinks that Arsenal are below him and he should move on to a team that spends a load of money, that they haven't earned, in bringing in an array of the world's best player's, in his words, a more ' ambitious ' club.
Well, if he doesn't want to be here at the best team in London, third best in England, and one of the best in the world, then so be it. We don't have time to give in to his fruitful demands of better pay. Why increase his pay from £100,000 a week to £240,000 a week just for him to not run off, spending an additional £7.3 million a year? We could buy two players who actually want to be part of the Gunners who would demand less than half of what the Dutchman wants. My guess is that Wenger thinks the same. Lukas Podolski will earn £100,000 a week, Olivier Giroud will be on £80,000. Saving £60,000 a week, and £3.12 million a year. Clever move.
So what now for Arsenal ahead of the 2012/2013 season? On the bright side, we will be seeing a lot more of this man leading the line.
"He is around 6ft 3in tall, so you would be talking in principle about a typical target man who you can hook the ball to and hope he holds it up. But he is not just that, though. He has huge physical presence, but one of the main characteristics of his game is his intelligence and willingness to find his team-mates in the danger zone. He is very alert to the runs made by his wingers, and is known for his link-up play as much as his finishing. He is terrific with his back to goal, at receiving the ball sometimes from awkward angles and, crucially for Arsenal when you think of their style of play, he has the technique and intelligence to play first touch. He doesn't offer just a physical presence, an aerial presence and a danger in front of goal, but he is also incredibly quick-thinking and quick-footed. "
- Phillipe Auclair, England correspondent of France Football and RMC, speaking on Arsenal.com
Phillipe also went on to say that Giroud " should be a 15 to 25 goals a season striker in the Premier League". That's a always a good sign.
My prediction for the transfer fee for RVP would be £30 million. It is a very unfair valuation for the best striker in the world, but with solely a year left on his contract, and the prospect of losing him for free in a year, £30 million would be the ideal price for a striker with a history of injury troubles and at a late stage in his career ( 29 years old ).
Below Van Persie? Never! This is ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB, we have never been below any player, we will continue to be one of the leading superpowers in world football, Van Persie or no Van Persie.
And just how is he repaid?
Only with a strongly worded letter stating that Van Persie's ambitions do not match his own, effectively saying that his management does not match that of gaffers across Europe's top leagues.
Robin Van Persie sends a message to Europe's most ' ambitious ' clubs.
" Any offers? "
What exactly is being ambitious in the modern game? In Van Persie's point of view, ambition is conveyed through how much money is being spent to improve the club. As with Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri. So because Arsene Wenger doesn't spend a tonne of money like Manchester City and Chelsea do, that makes him less ambitious? Come on Robin, give me a break. If you've paid attention to The Boss in his 16 year tenure, you'd see that his philosophy of buying players cheaply and developing them has brought about 3 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups and 4 Community Shields. Not a bad record. And does finishing 3rd make the club a less ambitious club? If you step outside of the box, you'd see that the club has finished 3rd in the world's most demanding league, behind an ever outstanding Manchester United and a Manchester City team who have spent a total of £481,850,000 on a new squad over 3 years. We beat off the challenge of our North London rivals, Tottenham, completely obliterated the threat of Chel$ea. And Liverpool. Well. I don't think we need to worry about them for a while.
So now, after 18 months of his best football, Van Persie now thinks that Arsenal are below him and he should move on to a team that spends a load of money, that they haven't earned, in bringing in an array of the world's best player's, in his words, a more ' ambitious ' club.
Well, if he doesn't want to be here at the best team in London, third best in England, and one of the best in the world, then so be it. We don't have time to give in to his fruitful demands of better pay. Why increase his pay from £100,000 a week to £240,000 a week just for him to not run off, spending an additional £7.3 million a year? We could buy two players who actually want to be part of the Gunners who would demand less than half of what the Dutchman wants. My guess is that Wenger thinks the same. Lukas Podolski will earn £100,000 a week, Olivier Giroud will be on £80,000. Saving £60,000 a week, and £3.12 million a year. Clever move.
So what now for Arsenal ahead of the 2012/2013 season? On the bright side, we will be seeing a lot more of this man leading the line.
"He is around 6ft 3in tall, so you would be talking in principle about a typical target man who you can hook the ball to and hope he holds it up. But he is not just that, though. He has huge physical presence, but one of the main characteristics of his game is his intelligence and willingness to find his team-mates in the danger zone. He is very alert to the runs made by his wingers, and is known for his link-up play as much as his finishing. He is terrific with his back to goal, at receiving the ball sometimes from awkward angles and, crucially for Arsenal when you think of their style of play, he has the technique and intelligence to play first touch. He doesn't offer just a physical presence, an aerial presence and a danger in front of goal, but he is also incredibly quick-thinking and quick-footed. "
- Phillipe Auclair, England correspondent of France Football and RMC, speaking on Arsenal.com
Phillipe also went on to say that Giroud " should be a 15 to 25 goals a season striker in the Premier League". That's a always a good sign.
My prediction for the transfer fee for RVP would be £30 million. It is a very unfair valuation for the best striker in the world, but with solely a year left on his contract, and the prospect of losing him for free in a year, £30 million would be the ideal price for a striker with a history of injury troubles and at a late stage in his career ( 29 years old ).
Below Van Persie? Never! This is ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB, we have never been below any player, we will continue to be one of the leading superpowers in world football, Van Persie or no Van Persie.
" And it's Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrssseeeeeeenal,
Arsenal FC,
We're by far the greatest team
the world has ever seen! "
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