Robin Van Persie has used his matchday programme notes to stress his commitment to Arsenal and called on fans to not judge him based on stories in the newspapers.
Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is eager to tie his striker down to a new long-term deal at the Emirates, but with the Dutchman only having one year on his contract and having hired Darren Dein to represent him, there is a fear that the Frenchman could be forced to cash in on the 28-year-old next summer or face losing him for free in 2013.
Speaking ahead of today’s match with Sunderland, Van Persie told supporters:
“I want to say something about my commitment to Arsenal because there have been many stories in the media lately,” said Van Persie.
“I am committed to Arsenal, and that’s how it is, despite people [in the media] making up stories. For example, they said I was selling my house, but that’s nothing recent, I moved house last year.
“I see stories which make me laugh, but I can see how frustrating it is from the fans’ point of view. But I am committed to Arsenal. I am captain, and fans should not believe everything they read.
“As for that house story, the house has been for sale for a while, but I’m not living on the streets or anything, I have found a really nice house, and yes, it’s in London! So I want to put that straight, I am committed, and I will show that on the pitch.”
Unfortunately, for Robin it’s going to take more than a few claming words to quell worries of his departure. Few supporters are anxious about his commitment on the field, but rather the manner in which the club have failed to clinically sort new and competitive contracts for star players.
You suspect unless he signs a new deal in the near future, such speculation will continue to mount.
I thought he had 2 years left on his contract not one. How have we let that happen, holy shit.
He does have 2 years on his contract, but if we don’t sell him at the end of this year he can leave on a free in the following year.
I really do hate the media. Even though I read it all day. Lol
I really hope he stays, is is so important to us and we have no other strikers to fill his boots.
How frightening is that?!
I do think it’s a bit ridiculous that we’re relying on him for the majority of our goals at the moment. Few years back we had Eduardo & “he who must not be named” bagging 30 a season with Robin as a shadow striker, and Thierry before as striker with Dennis in that shadow role. Then we’ve had countless star midfielders – Ljungberg, Pires, Edu, Vieira, Rosicky before the injuries, Cesc, Na$ri – and some half decent ones like Flamini & Hleb, who’d grab goals/assists to help those strikers out. You can understand RVP’s discomfort at being the sole goalscorer,… Read more »
When did Hleb ever score for Arsenal? Ha
Then Sign the new contract! Na$ri said the shit .
p.s RVP>Nasri in every aspect
If we sell him, there goes another best player of the team. And our option B is poor at the moment.
i knew from the start the media were creating a story, RVP’s commitment has never been in question. What i will say is on the basis of this past summer where we sold our two best players and haven’t replaced their qualities and lost 8-2 to Man U and are lying a few points off relegation, who can blame Robin from holding off on contract talks until Wenger proves Arsenal will be competitive. I have full belief if Arsenal bring some quality in and are in the champions league places, RVP will pledge his future to the gunners, but the… Read more »
The only way that he can show his commitment beyond this season is by signing a new deal. That’s the bottom line. Anything else is simply words.
Its a two-way street dude. The management also has to do their part by bring in quality players to show that Arsenal will be competitive.
Of course, dude, but it’s a chicken and egg situation; if RVP is waiting for signings and good new signings are waiting to see if RVP signs a new deal, then we are at an impasse. At some point someone has to say, “I want to play for Arsenal regardless of the other offers out there, and what other players are in the team”.
What else would anyone expect him to say anyway, he’s playing for us for this year at least so ain’t about to say can’t wait to join man city. He will stay if we show ambition in the transfer Market if we don’t then he will go and who could blame him. Over to you arsene and the board.
we must not let RVP leave or we are finished.
His next contract will be his last long term big contract he signs. It is just words but at the end of the day he is a player who deserves to bow out of the game with some trophies. If we can mount a challange and properly buy players in Januray i feel we may have avery good chance of keeping him. However if we don’t his pastures will lie somewhere new.
I do hope he signs a new long term long contract, but if the manager and the board aren’t that ambitious, I WOULDN’T BLAME HIM FOR LEAVING US.
i think the board have already proven that when we cash in on big players, it is not reinvested in quality replacements. Why cash in on Robin then. You can just see picture: Robin goes, and Joel Campbell the 19yr old, comes in as the super quality replacement who will replace him. If Ivan the terrible won’t stop jizzing at the very mention of our self-sustainable model and the fact we can do without champions league money, then we can bloody well do without cashing in on Robin. For me, its simple: Robin is challenging Arsene to show him that… Read more »
Yes.
I really do have a big one.