Arsenal are reportedly hopeful that captain Robin van Persie will perform a U-turn and not only stay at the club, but also sign a new contract and Increase Arsenal's Chance to get silverware this season.

Manchester City, rivals Manchester United, and Juventus are all keen on signing Van Persie, who last month stated he had no plans to sign a new contract at Arsenal.

His existing deal expires next summer and it has been widely expected that he will leave Emirates Stadium this month.

Man Utd are at time of writing favourites with bookmakers Sky Bet to win the race to sign the 28-year-old this summer, ahead of Man City, and Juventus.

But according to the Daily Star, Van Persie has been impressed by Arsenal's efforts to strengthen their squad this summer, with Spain international Santi Carzola set to join the club in the next couple of days.

Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin is also set to arrive on a season-long loan as manager Arsene Wenger overhauls his squad, while the Frenchman has already brought in Lukas Polodski and Olivier Giroud.

Van Persie is set to fly out of London in the next few days with the Arsenal squad for their pre-season training camp in Germany, and according to Saturday's report, some Arsenal officials now believe their skipper could decide to stay at the Emirates.

Before dropping his bombshell last month, it was known that Van Persie was keen for Wenger to show ambition in the transfer market this summer.

And with Arsenal holding out for at least £20million for the Netherlands international, there is a chance that he could start the new Premier League season in north London.

Reports in recent days have suggested Man Utd are unwilling to spend more than £15m on Van Persie, while Juventus are also yet to come close to Arsenal's asking price.

It is widely thought the Dutchman would prefer to join Juventus or move to Old Trafford ahead of a switch to Man City, which would not go down well with Arsenal fans.

AC Milan, Barcelona, and Real Madrid have also shown interest in Van Persie, but none are believed to have tabled bids.

Will Van Persie stay or go this month? Have your say below!

Cazorla’s signing and RVP’s possible rethink places a strong Arsenal in the title challenge

Don’t get me wrong Cazorla is a major signing for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. It sends out the message that Arsenal and Wenger mean business this season. And this is for two reasons.

Firstly, the total transfer outlay so far is about 40m, and still counting. This is far, far more than any other season in the last seven barren years.

Secondly all the transfers involve players who are far more mature both in terms of age and experience in difficult competitive leagues. Podolski is 27 and a Germany international, Giroud is 25 and a France international and Cazorla 27 and a Spain international.

They are all quality players and worthy of first team selection. And they are all added to a squad who as yet has not lost anyone of note. If RVP does eventually leave this summer then the three new comers do add up to a net addition to an already strong squad.

Consider the squad as it stands now:

Goalkeepers: Szczęsny, Fabianski, Mannone

Right Backs: Sagna, Jenkinson, , Koscienly (if needed), Coquelin, Yennaris

Left Backs: Gibbs, Santos, (we are rather short of cover here if both get injured)

Central Defenders: Vermaelen, Koscienly, Mertesacker, Djourou

Central Midfilders: Song, Diaby, Arteta, Rosicky, Ramsey, Coquelin, Frimpong, Wilshere,

Wide Midfielders: Walcott, Gervinho, Podolski, Arshavin, The Ox, Cazorla

Strikers: RVP (if he stays), Giroud, Chamakh, Bendtner (if he stays)

It seems that if RVP leaves the strikers position would prove to be an area where we may me short. Chamakh is not up to it and Bendtner wants out which leaves us with only Giroud.

Nevertheless the squad is far far stronger than in recent years.

And I boldly can predict that IF RVP has  a rethink  stays then we can  lift the title this coming season…..

Arsenal recruit Santi Cazorla can sugar pill of Robin van Persie exit

Santi Cazorla has undergone his medical at Arsenal and the club are poised to announce his £16m signing from Málaga, which they hope will be followed by the loan of Real Madrid's Nuri Sahin. Cazorla stands to travel with the Arsenal squad on their training excursion to Germany next week and make his debut in the friendly against FC Köln.

The 27-year-old's transfer had been held up by the turmoil at Málaga, the club that he joined from Villarreal for £15m last summer; Málaga's debts and prospective sale have provided soap opera story-lines. But the London club's confidence that they would get their man is finally set to be realised.

The attacking midfielder's arrival on a four-year contract is sure to generate excitement among the club's fans, who have seen the managerArsène Wenger sign the strikers Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud for a combined £24m but, also, have to contend with the Robin van Persiesaga. Last season's captain, who has 12 months to run on his contract and will not sign a new one at the club, has come to favour a move to Manchester United over Manchester City or Juventus, his other suitors, but there remain questions over whether United are willing to meet Arsenal's £20m asking price.

Van Persie did not travel on the club's tour of Asia, with Wenger citing fitness reasons rather than his potential sale but, with the squad now back in London, Van Persie is training with them. Wenger intends to take him to Germany next Tuesday, where the group will train before they face FC Köln on Sunday week.

The worry is that the Van Persie situation will continue to run and undermine the buildup to Arsenal's opening fixture of the new season at home to Sunderland on 18 August but at least Wenger has already signed striking reinforcements. Cazorla, though, feels like the marquee addition. A member of Spain's triumphant Euro 2008 and 2012 squads, he can operate in wide areas but he is expected to play in the central attacking midfield role in Wenger's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. He flew into London on Thursday and his signing may sugar the pill of Van Persie's intended departure.

Sahin would further swell Wenger's creative options. The Turkey midfielder is in talks over an initial season-long loan, having seen his opportunities restricted at Madrid. Wenger has loaned the 19-year-old striker Benik Afobe to Bolton Wanderers for the season.