There is obviously going to be a lot of anger from Arsenal fans after the news that Van Persie has moved to our biggest historical rivals Manchester United, after inferring that there was no way he would move to another Premiership club.
But what really annoys me is that just THREE days ago Wenger stated that he still wanted to keep Van Persie, and that Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud were brought in to play alongside RVP to help the Gunners go for trophies. Here is his exact words: “Robin scored 30 goals last season and you want to keep your best player. He was player of the year in England. We want to keep him. I cannot tell you more at the moment because I don’t know more.
“We have not bought the players to replace van Persie, but to strengthen our squad with the thinking van Persie will stay. That’s still my mind at the moment.”
But yesterday, just 48 hours after that statement, Wenger revealed that he had no choice but to sell Van Persie and that the new arrivals WERE brought in as his replacements!
When asked about Van Persie yesterday Wenger was quoted in Sky Sports as saying: “He is at Manchester United, unfortunately for us. The transfer was finalised in the afternoon,”
“It’s never great to lose players of that quality but he only had a year contract so we do not have a choice.”
When asked if he would be spending the proceeds on a replacement he replied: “We have already recruited since we have Giroud and Podolski who originally were intended to offset the departure of van Persie,”
So, like Nasri last year, Wenger has been stringing us along until he finally capitulates and sells another star player, just like he does every single year. Arsenal fans have every right to be annoyed!
Who could forget Wenger’s famous bit of misinformation last summer, which needs no more comment from me.
He said: “Imagine the worst situation – we lose Fabregas and Nasri – you cannot convince people you are ambitious after that. I believe for us it is important the message we give out. For example, you talk about Fabregas leaving, Nasri leaving.
“If you give that message out, you cannot pretend you are a big club, because a big club first of all holds onto its big players and gives a message out to all the other big clubs that they just cannot come in and take them away from you.”
COMMENTS GUIDELINES: ANY COMMENTS WITH SWEARING OR PERSONAL ABUSE WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT EXCEPTION: PLEASE DISCUSS THE SUBJECT IN A FRIENDLY AND OBJECTIVE MANNER. SERIAL ABUSERS WILL BE BANNED. PLEASE BE NICE TO YOUR FELLOW GOONERS! NEW IDEA!! If A comment is deemed EXTRA SPECIAL I reserve the right to sopy it and use it as an article in its own right. (Edited of course!)