Robin Van Persie

Does anyone else think that he has shown a huge lack of respect for the club, manager and fans?

Over the 7 years he was at Arsenal he quite often spent a lot of his time injured but Wenger and the fans stuck with him through that and kept faith in him and made him the player that he was last season. So in return RvP has decided to shove two fingers up to the club, fans and especially Wenger by going to one of their biggest rivals. I can understand that he is getting to the latter stages of his career and he wants to win trophies, but surely if that was the case and he really wanted to go, he would understand that he would have to go abroad for that otherwise it's just screwing Arsenals chances of winning trophies.

What's everyone else made of it?

No I don't think that. He has given Arsenal great service for the (admittedly ridiculous ) wages they have paid him and they have received a very substantial fee for him. He is entitled to play and live where he likes. If Arsenal are not able to win trophies it is not down to him but to their mistaken transfer policies in recent years.

Point taken, although I wouldn't say he's been a great servant of the club by having one great season with them and then leaving. I just think that he has shown a huge lack of respect by signing for one of Arsenals rivals. If they had sold him to Juve, PSG or anyone abroad then I wouldn't be thinking the same.

I agree with Alf. You're assuming moving his whole family to a whole new country is an easy thing to do. He no doubt has strong connections to this country with the eight years he's been here, and his children are settled in schools. I can completely understand why he'd want to stay in the premiership.

And Arsenal, even as someone who follows them, can be infuriating. Low wage allowances and a refusal for years to bring in anyone of true quality instead of just decent youths would grind. He's not getting any younger and he still has no premiership titles, no cup titles, no continental titles. A player of his quality deserves that sort of recognition. They've started bringing in big talent again now to try as tempt him to stay, but they're still also letting Walcott and Song, two of their very best players, walk away. It's ridiculous.

So basically yeah, Arsenal fans should be insulted and feel cheated. But don't blame RVP, he's been driven out by Arsenal's back room politics.

Looks like I've lost this before it's barely started

Roath Redbird wrote:Looks like I've lost this before it's barely started

Im with you fella

Arsenal shouldn't have been so spineless. Also Wenger's decision to keep him was based on how much success he could give Arsenal, not out of some pure love like some seem to think.

thewelshfella wrote:

Roath Redbird wrote:Looks like I've lost this before it's barely started

Im with you fella

At least someone is

Personally I also think that if RvP did stay at Arsenal they could of been a real threat for any of the competitions and I think it would of been as hard as it will be at United now due to how much other clubs like Chelsea have improved their squads, so I'm not quite convinced he's guaranteed to win trophies at United.

Haha sorry Roath, we don't mean to be ganging up on you on this I'm sure. You speak a lot of sense on most things, we just disagree here.

Roath Redbird wrote:

thewelshfella wrote:

Roath Redbird wrote:Looks like I've lost this before it's barely started

Im with you fella

At least someone is

Personally I also think that if RvP did stay at Arsenal they could of been a real threat for any of the competitions and I think it would of been as hard as it will be at United now due to how much other clubs like Chelsea have improved their squads, so I'm not quite convinced he's guaranteed to win trophies at United.

Agree trophies won't be guaranteed, but they're more likely than at Arsenal. He's been at Arsenal for 8 years, so it's not like he's moved at the first opportunity. And at least he's given Arsenal the chance to get some money for him (some very decent money as it turns out) rather than letting his contract run down to nothing.

Well according to Fergie it's because of Wenger why that had such a good fee for him. But with RvP in the Arsenal side, they could of arguably had one of their best squads of the last few years. Fair point about not letting him contract run down though!

Red614 wrote:Haha sorry Roath, we don't mean to be ganging up on you on this I'm sure. You speak a lot of sense on most things, we just disagree here.

Of course mate I know

Arsenal have made some good signings over the summer, plus Wilshere will be back. I hope and pray they finish higher than Man Utd.

This is so weird. It's something you'd expect to see in Italy.

I blame Arsenal. Their terrible contract policy has led to this situation. If they had any sense they'd have tied him into a 5 year contract a couple of years ago when he was injured.