Signed in 2004 from Feyenoord – you were dubbed the successor of the legendary Dennis Bergkamp. You made yourself known when you scored that brilliant last minute equalizer against Southampton at Highbury and went on to help us reach the FA Cup final in 2005 which ultimately was our last trophy as of now. You scored screamers and displayed talent that transcended other youngsters.
You had your injuries however, but whenever you did play, you showed us why we as fans and Arsene Wenger were right to keep our faith in you. Barring one season, you were always into double figures despite your injury hell. With Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Adebayor’s departures, you were our main man up front.
Players came and left but that didn’t stop you from wanting to leave. You told the Arsenal fans things like your heart always being with Arsenal and “I just can’t picture myself in a different shirt.” You also said things such as “this is the best team for me to be in. The bottom line is that I want to win trophies with Arsenal, not with anybody else. I know you can win trophies in many countries and in many ways, but I want to do that in our way and in an Arsenal shirt.”
You endeared yourself to the Arsenal universe with these comments along with the fact that you were an Arsenal fan yourself as a teenager, while on the pitch, you showed everyone why Arsene Wenger was right to say that you could be on Ronaldo or Messi’s level. Since the 2009/2010 season, you had scored 69 goals and assisted 30 times for Arsenal in your best ever injury-free period. You became captain in 2011 and scored over 30 goals for us in what was the best season of your career as you virtually carried us to 3rd place.
So why decide not to extend your contract? You may have won only two trophies with Arsenal since 2004 but this team, despite all the things which have affected it in recent years, was finally looking a force again.
We’ve signed Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski – two proven goalscorers so we didn’t have to put the goalscoring burden solely on you. We’re linked heavily with Yann M’Vila – a midfield enforcer who will make sure your goals haven’t gone to waste. We have released Manuel Almunia and are close to offloading fringe players in Sebastien Squillaci, Carlos Vela and Denilson, freeing up our wage bill in the process just to give you the salary you to deserve (even though we did have a wage cap.) This has been a pretty good summer, transfer-wise – and you decide to announce that it’s not enough and make a statement that you’re not extending your contract?
You have completely tarnished your reputation now. You’ve been made stupid with your comments in the past as well such as “Arsenal gave me a chance to develop into a good player. I want to repay the club, the fans & everyone with trophies.” Let’s not forget acts such as kissing the Arsenal badge – what do you make of that now?
Players like Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor left us for money and supposed trophies, but we thought you were different. We stood by you when you had injuries, ones which would rule you out for a whole season – not on one occasion either. We could have easily cut our losses and sold you (despite the fact that no club would ever sign a player as injury prone as you.) But no – Arsene Wenger decided to keep the faith and this is how you reward him after one world class season?
By making a statement behind Arsenal’s back on your website, you’ve also left us in a tricky situation now – basically a fax to all the clubs saying you’re available and it’ll be very hard for us to get good money off of you. Your departure is worse than the likes of Samir Nasri or Cesc Fabregas.
You should know better after witnessing the departures of many, a key player at Arsenal. Here, you’re a king – elsewhere, you’re a prince, we can all guarantee that. You could have earned immortality here – our squad was also at a position to strengthen, not replace for a change, ultimately leading to trophies as we are very much due some.
Your parents said that you should stay at Arsenal. Many Arsenal legends have reiterated the same. Just yesterday, Arsene Wenger made comments – “I’ve always supported van Persie, even in the hardest of times. Now I hope he’ll end his career at Arsenal.”
Now, not only have you made Wenger look stupid, but you’ve given him another kick in the teeth as he’ll have to start over again. You’ve sent out a wrong message about this club and now other players may follow you such as Alex Song or Theo Walcott.
You say you haven’t discussed anything monetary-related with Arsenal and yet, all signs point towards Manchester City as your next destination. Are we really that far from them? We outclassed them at the Emirates Stadium while we deserved a point at the Etihad. We are very much on par with them. If you stayed, you could have proven that you could achieve success with class and without oil. We still can do that now that you’ve informed us of your wishes early in the summer and prepare.
You will now be seen as a mercenary, no matter where you move and have lost the support and respect of many, an Arsenal fan as well as other football fans. There is no point keeping a player who isn’t committed and you should now leave for the sake of both parties.
No player is bigger than the club as you very much ironically said yourself – “Every big player who leaves Arsenal is a massive loss. But no player here is bigger than the club.”
We will move on without you as we’ve done so in the past with any other player. Arsene Wenger has never had a problem replacing strikers. But why, van Persie…why?
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Why, because we don’t show commitment from the Board and Wenger to win at all costs. He cannot be faulted, we wanted to see proven winners come to Ashburton Grove. Giroud and Podolski are not big trophy winners. In fact, they were recruited to soften the blow of RvP departing or having an off-season next year. Always remember that we would have been mid-table without him last year and everyone should respect his reasoning.
wat a crap are u saying, poldi and giroud are nt good enough? i’ll say to hell with u and rvp. we would have finish mid table if nt for him, u have forgotten he would have been playing in midtable if nt for the faith renal showed in him. away with the idiot
They were clearly replacements for him in case he left, no quality backup keeper, no attempt to patch our holes in the midfield. Look at what Chelsea has done already during the transfer winodw. THAT is what a commitment to winning trophies looks like
Dont be an idiot, all this crap spewing about the board and the direction is massive bull. This guy was a massive crock for 7 of his 8 seasons and should repay the faith the BOARD and club and manager showed in him. Again, Arsen’s only mistake was not securing a move for him in January. He’ll be injured next year and will have a crap season, hope Theo leaves too.
That is his trueself now. Inconsistent, not meaning what he says and signifies his downfall.
This article is a joke, Arsenal finished 19 points behind Manchester City and are lightyears behind them.
rvp u stab us in the back
Fuck u robin fuck u.i dnt bloody care whether u see off ur contract or not.to hell wit u.And to AW and d board,signed more gud and quality players or rot in hell.i cant bear 2 go 2ru another season wit arsenal trophyless.gooner by heart and will always b
He is clearly leaving for more money. Let us just move on.
Arsenal was already willing to break their wage structure for him, so I doubt money was an issue, he’s clearly leaving because he feels like the board will never assemble a trophy winning team before he is retired. He stayed and tried for years, clearly he’s realized it’s a fool’s errand to keep waiting. What happened to all the money we were supposed to spend over the summer?
This news spoilt my day….very disappointing indeed. I thought van Persie 2 be a better person than rabbit teeth Nasri but now, he can go 4ck himself.
Van Persie realises that Arsenal are a small club, miles away from winning any trophies, and wants to win trophies at a big club, for example Manchester City.
To answer your question, because Arsenal is a shit club. Always was.
What and man city is not a shit club because you have blood and oil money?? Good luck to you if that’s what Makes you sleep at night buying success and not working for it. Great morals for future generations but then again we the taxpayers prob have to pay for you chavvy bastards to have a meal at night.
Why do man city want all arsenal players. Turning into the retirement home for ex arsenal players.
Good luck to rvp smoking cigars with nasri on the bench.
Times have changed, football is a big money game now, Arsenal needs to get on board or be left behind. We need to let Usmanov in.
lol..okay arsenal had been shit for one season, and Manshitty were shit for what 43 err 44 years..???amazing
Never mind, those players that left Arsenal include van persie, they’re ingrate they should remember there level before wenger made them as hero. Such is life soldier go soldier come remember barrack remain. Fuck them all.
This attitude would carry more weight if we ever won anything or brought in players as good or better than we let go. Instead it’s always “prospects” who will be stars “one day” then they just leave too when they’re able because the board doesn’t understand the concept of investment
but how could he not sign a new contract wenger made him who he is.. and all them injury’s we stood next it to him i think he should sign another 2 year contract nd she wat way this new team will go down coz wenger bout to fast d good players he have more to cum its our years dats y robi shudnt leave
fuk u rvp is a petty dat u have forgetten how arsenal paid u when u are in treatment table
RVP is a fuck to hell with him anyway, he only had just one season out of the 8yrs he spent with d club, RVP listen to me I don’t care if u sign a new contract ot not cos I don’t give a dam abt u, u can go and sell yourself for all I care, fuck u robbie. I remain a gonner forever
shame Robin, he spoke too soon…If he had some logic in his thinking that truly represent your affection to the club, he could’ve wait for few weeks. Let Arsene and the board convince us & him that we’re moving ahead the same direction. The current signs actually so good (before THAT statement), with Podolski and Giroud coming, we’re still have the whole 2 months to work on more signings (i expect a creative attacking and a defensive player, or probably a good backup goalie) and clear out squad, of course. What more, oh yeah we’ll see ‘new signings’ as well in Wilshere and Diaby, let’s not forget Ox in the box too, the squad more mature and solid. Arsenal is on the rise once again, and now he just threw away the chance to stand among us, lifting trophies in years to come? Come on…
However, as Arsenal Big Family, I think we should give him some time to clear his mind. Certainly he’s been devastated, well, not to mention some ill advises too, by many things like Netherland poor showing in Euro, roller coaster ride last season where he felt fighting alone to drag us from hell, watching some ex club mates winning titles (Cesc!!!, Henry, Na$ri, Clichy, Vieira, even Flamini)…. Time’s running out for him. Yet, no other place is better to console him than here, with Arsenal Family and Arsene’s open arms. In my opinion, we should just keep him to commit his final year. Hopefully, if and ONLY IF Arsenal still in strong position to challenge premiership title by the winter, and secure CL knockout round stage, we would have decent chance to make him re-thinking his decision. Sell him now would do no good for us fans after all, and surely would blow our title chance since I can’t see the board would be so generous to effectively re-invest the money 😦
…anyway, this is just “grab my hand, mate” offering for Robin from us
For me he will always be captain vantastic .. I agree with the reason he gave to why not sign a contract.. Till we replace Gazidis and Hill Wood we won’t move forward.. They are blocking the cash supply due to which wenger has to sit down with all f the parties and debate over thr price eventually losing the player to likes of City, Chelsea, PSG and other clubs ran by filthy multi millionair
Reblogged this on Vantage Point: Toronto and commented:
On a day where I was lost for words, another writer had a couple to encapsulate Robin Van Persie’s imminent departure from Arsenal football club.
Cesc and Nasri went in their last season we finished fourth arguably two of the best attacking midfielders in the country, we started off poorly but finish third, many said we didnt stand a chance.Now one of the best strikers in the world wishes to leave us, i say let him leave, we need to ensure the squad gels before the season starts and i think we have more fire power to get more goals. Right now we need an attacking midfielder and a defensive one, let coq and jenkinson play right back and concentrate on getting our middle right. LETS GO GUNNERS
Lets face it, Rvp had indeed been injury prone , play 10 games a session , but was it not him scoring important goals when we desperately needed them ? and the last 3 sessions we were more aware of Van persie’s presence .(because big players left) but he stood by Arsenal 8 years! he was frustrated by injuries but he stood with us! WHAT , YOU THINK HE LIKED BEING INJURED? he told the boss several times that Arsenal weren’t far off from winning a trophy all they needed was 1 or 2 quality players . LOOK AT WHAT WE DID AGAINST BARCALONA, we beat them! WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO WIN. THE BOTTEM LINE IS HE IS LEAVING BECAUSE
1. not all the arsenal players have the desire to win
2. the board and wenger dont buy experience players. LOOK AT MAN U, LOOK AND CHELSEA LOOK AT THERE DEFENSE LOOK AT THERE KEEPERS\ that is the between just getting 3rd to winning the league
This article sucks..Players like Eduardo,Almunia,Eboue and countless others have been kicked out of arsenal inspite of giving their best.It seems Arsene demands the best from his players who are kicked out if they don’t perform and doesn’t buy great players to support them and finishes winning shit and then you have the likes of Nasri,Fabregas.Adebayor and RVP(He scored 15-20 goals despite being injured,that’s why he was at arsenal so many years,otherwise Wenger would kick him out too) who realize that you have to leave and save your life off a sinking ship.What do the likes of Eduardo and Almunia have now..Nothing..no trophies..only mental satisfaction that some bloody arsenal fan will remember him..That’s not enough for players.They want to win trophies.They need to earn money.Both are at an all time low at Arsenal.The tide doesn’t flow from one side……And regarding Mancity..They are billions of light years ahead of arsenal…It’s consistent performances against all the teams that makes you a great team not inspired performances against chelsea or city in a one off game.
Although I can understand Robin’s reasonsing for not wanting to extend his contract I feel he could have endeared himself much more to us Arsenal fans if he left us in glory just as Drogba did when after literally winning Chelsea the champions League he fittingly decided to leave, securing his legendary status. We need a striker of the quality, experience and affordability of Defoe or Dempsey to replace Robin as I believe Giroud and Podolski will not hit the ground running in their first season for the club. We only have to look back at Chamack and Gervinho’s starts to realise this!
Any river that 4get its sources wl definitely dry so rvp sud kn ds dt gunners stood by him in the days of his trial nd if he trek in the path which other ungretful ex gunners trod now that fans ar ador him, he may regret at last. Haf of a word is enough 4 d wise, rvp b wise
Let the ingrate be,if this is the best he can do,let him go elsewhere and sustain another long-term injury and see wat becomes of him…bastard!!!
are you effin kidding me? this guy finally understood Arsenal can’t win trophies, and he’ll have made the right decision if he leaves.
He’s going to end up like Nasri, loved by all one min, hated by all the next, let’s hope frimmyMrT gets the hold of him!
East or west home is the best.am ashamed of u R.V.P