Good Bye RVP!

[Ollie the Optimist]

Said this a week ago

People called it a WUM post

I call it a premonition

well done you, you claimed our captain was going. what do you want, a fucking cookie or osmething? fuck off

[Özim]

this :gp:

this crap i love the club and want to win trophies. how he plan to do that by leaving? utter bullshit from a disloyal ****
You come out with this after all the cr*p you said about him.

Reactionnary posting at it's best.

[Munchies]

It's funny where his ambition was when he was picking up the cash on the treatment table each year. Fucking Mong.

[Özim]

Also Joker :bow:

Was spot on about RVP all this time

Let me be the first to apologise to him
Let's be fair it was pretty obvious to anyone who see's things as they are, only those who still believed things are going to change (after 7 years of the same sh*t) believed otherwise, I guess those people will never learn just like Wenger.

[Ollie the Optimist]

You come out with this after all the cr*p you said about him.

Reactionnary posting at it's best.

i was wrong, i was conviced he was staying. thought he was better then that

[Cripps_orig]

well done you, you claimed our captain was going. what do you want, a fucking cookie or osmething? fuck off
And yet you were convinced he would stay

:lol:

I accept your apology

Seriously though, surely even you can see there is something rottenly wrong with this club

[Munchies]

http://p.twimg.com/Aw-nmBdCEAEBlCJ.jpg

:rose:

[Cripps_orig]

http://p.twimg.com/Aw-nmBdCEAEBlCJ.jpg

:rose:
What trophy is that **** holding?

[GP]

It's funny where his ambition was when he was picking up the cash on the treatment table each year. Fucking Mong.

He'll have 200,000 ambitions a week at his new club.

[gunnerrrrr]

It's funny where his ambition was when he was picking up the cash on the treatment table each year. Fucking Mong.

lets take the "always injured before 2011/12" with a pinch of salt -

2004–05 26 5 1 9 4 0 6 1 0 41 10 1
2005–06 24 5 1 7 4 1 7 2 0 38 11 2
2006–07 22 11 7 1 0 0 8 2 1 31 13 8
2007–08 15 7 3 1 0 0 7 2 2 23 9 5
2008–09 28 11 10 6 4 1 10 5 2 44 20 13
2009–10 16 9 7 0 0 0 3 1 1 20 10 8
2010–11 25 18 7 5 2 0 3 2 0 33 22 7
2011–12 38 30 13 2 2 0 8 5 2 48 37 15

Last three representing games played, goals scored and assists.

yes he was injured during key periods, but when he played he invariably produced.

[Cripps_orig]

lets take the "always injured before 2011/12" with a pinch of salt -

2004–05 26 5 1 9 4 0 6 1 0 41 10 1
2005–06 24 5 1 7 4 1 7 2 0 38 11 2
2006–07 22 11 7 1 0 0 8 2 1 31 13 8
2007–08 15 7 3 1 0 0 7 2 2 23 9 5
2008–09 28 11 10 6 4 1 10 5 2 44 20 13
2009–10 16 9 7 0 0 0 3 1 1 20 10 8
2010–11 25 18 7 5 2 0 3 2 0 33 22 7
2011–12 38 30 13 2 2 0 8 5 2 48 37 15

Last three representing games played, goals scored and assists.

yes he was injured during key periods, but when he played he invariably produced.

But he was always injured so that comes in to it

[Özim]

i was wrong, i was conviced he was staying. thought he was better then that
I hope this is a wake up call for you about how the club is run and our ambition. You can't of our best players walk out every summer and still believe it's because of the players, the problem is at the club and until things change I see this continuing.

[Joker]

Perhaps we'd have half a chance of winning the Champions League 2 seasons ago if he didn't get sent off by being a **** against Barca (the first yellow card was pure petulance even if you think the second was soft). How about the semi final against Chelsea in 08-09, when he disappeared and we lost? Or the Sunderland match this year in the FA Cup, when we didn't see him do anything of note?

RVP is as responsible as anyone for our lack of success over the last 5 years. This is not even mentioning the countless crunch matches he has missed due to injury (including the Carling Cup final against Birmingham, where he was a passenger for the second half due to injury).

He's a bottler, and if he does go to City I can see him being shown up by players like Silva and Aguero who have performed when it really mattered.

[Özim]

He'll have 200,000 ambitions a week at his new club.
and a few medals no doubt, don't think he'll be too sad when he looks back just like most of the others that have left.

[Cripps_orig]

Let's be fair it was pretty obvious to anyone who see's things as they are, only those who still believed things are going to change (after 7 years of the same sh*t) believed otherwise, I guess those people will never learn just like Wenger.

Pretty much

[Munchies]

My favourite RVP Goal ? Probably the one against Southampton or the one against Blackburn in the 05/06 season.

[gunnerrrrr]

Perhaps we'd have half a chance of winning the Champions League 2 seasons ago if he didn't get sent off by being a **** against Barca (the first yellow card was pure petulance even if you think the second was soft). How about the semi final against Chelsea in 08-09, when he disappeared and we lost? Or the Sunderland match this year in the FA Cup, when we didn't see him do anything of note?

RVP is as responsible as anyone for our lack of success over the last 5 years. This is not even mentioning the countless crunch matches he has missed due to injury (including the Carling Cup final against Birmingham, where he was a passenger for the second half due to injury).

He's a bottler, and if he does go to City I can see him being shown up by players like Silva and Aguero who have performed when it really mattered.
come on mate, even Messi and Ronaldo have bad games

[Cripps_orig]

My favourite RVP Goal ? Probably the one against Southampton or the one against Blackburn in the 05/06 season.

Too soon to do the favourite thing yet

Let him die first

[Joker]

lets take the "always injured before 2011/12" with a pinch of salt -

2004–05 26 5 1 9 4 0 6 1 0 41 10 1
2005–06 24 5 1 7 4 1 7 2 0 38 11 2
2006–07 22 11 7 1 0 0 8 2 1 31 13 8
2007–08 15 7 3 1 0 0 7 2 2 23 9 5
2008–09 28 11 10 6 4 1 10 5 2 44 20 13
2009–10 16 9 7 0 0 0 3 1 1 20 10 8
2010–11 25 18 7 5 2 0 3 2 0 33 22 7
2011–12 38 30 13 2 2 0 8 5 2 48 37 15

Last three representing games played, goals scored and assists.

yes he was injured during key periods, but when he played he invariably produced.

His record against the top teams and in the most important games is crap though. It's all well and good scoring hattricks against Wigan, but top players score at the crucial moments in a season (like Aguero's crucial goals at the end of last season).

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We've been linked on Redcafe.

Hi guys!

[GP]

Arsenal Football Club has issued the following statement with regard to Robin van Persie's future:

"

We have to respect Robin's decision not to renew his contract. Robin has one year to run on his current contract and we are confident that he will fulfil his commitments to the Club.

"We are planning with ambition and confidence for next season with Arsenal's best interests in mind."

Reading between the lines: 'Fuck you, Robin'

[Munchies]

Arsenal release Statement:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/club-statement-robin-van-persie

Sounds like we'll keep him for next season ?

But I know our board won't risk him for free, so why the feck are they lying :lol:

[GP]

We've been linked on Redcafe.

Hi guys!

Redcafe are all cunts

[gunnerrrrr]

His record against the top teams and in the most important games is crap though. It's all well and good scoring hattricks against Wigan, but top players score at the crucial moments in a season (like Aguero's crucial goals at the end of last season).
He has scored goals against United, Chelsea, Spurs, Barcelona, Milan.....lets be reasonable

[Munchies]

:lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Redcafe :haha:

I bet they will agree with us that RVP is a **** though

Nevertheless, Redcafe :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Redcafe are all cunts

I dunno, that Maccy guy seems alright, not that he ever posts.

And as for our statement: keep the price as high as possible, good idea. We'll sell though, of course.

[friskyanders]

Redcafe are all cunts - They can fuck off - and so can RVP.

Luckily we haven't sold Bendtner yet and with Chamakh, Park and Gervinho we have an abundance of talent up front anyway!

If we're really lucky Denilson might come back from Brazil too.....

[GP]

So he wants to win trophies does he?

Ok, sell the twat to Celtic.

[Joker]

- They can fuck off - and so can RVP.

Luckily we haven't sold Bendtner yet and with Chamakh, Park and Gervinho we have an abundance of talent up front anyway!

If we're really lucky Denilson might come back from Brazil too.....

Ambition :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

We've been linked on Redcafe.

Hi guys!
Need links

[RomfordPele]

Not impressed with him issuing a public statement - massively weakens our negotiating position.

Let's get the deal done with city and move on. Take the £20million or whatever we can get and invest in Fellaini please wenger.

[Munchies]

He'll go to City, and if he does the fans will treat him like a mercenary.

If he goes abroad, the fans will have some apathy towards him.

Oh and from my sig, the tosser from Talk sport was right :lol:

[GP]

Not impressed with him issuing a public statement - massively weakens our negotiating position.

Let's get the deal done with city and move on. Take the £20million or whatever we can get and invest in Fellaini please wenger.

I'd rather take the £8m from Juventus.

[fari]

I'd rather take the £8m from Juventus.

me too

[Kano]

cheers for last season robin - that covered your transfer fee at least. good luck wherever you go.

[The Verminator]

At the end of the day, he was our captain so him leaving was inevitable.

I believe our new captain should be Mister Chamakh.

[jelgoon]

I agree. I just cant believe the way fans on here slag off Wenger and the board the whole season and then when RVP does the inevitable he is slaughtered. I have no sympathy for the board - they have one of the world's richest men itching to get on and yet they dont wanna know. I also t hink that RVP ( like Fabregas) knows that Wenger is a busted flush and we wont win anything major again under him



I hope this is a wake up call for you about how the club is run and our ambition. You can't of our best players walk out every summer and still believe it's because of the players, the problem is at the club and until things change I see this continuing.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Oh well. Bit of a shame but we've been used to this most summers now (a major player leaving). Hopefully we'll get a minimum of 20 million and re-invest that into the squad.

We won't get anything near that for him.

The Club need to make it clear (and stick to it) that either he is seeing out his contract or get him out the door immediately. We just can't have the same shit we had last year.

Because of his injury record and his age, his value is nowhere near the sums a lot of people believe. This in a perverse way is good for the Club because there is less to lose financially by making him see his contract out.

[Letters]

Perhaps we'd have half a chance of winning the Champions League 2 seasons ago if he didn't get sent off by being a **** against Barca (the first yellow card was pure petulance even if you think the second was soft).
The 2nd one wasn't 'soft', it was farcical, possibly corrupt. You're cherry picking a few bad games here and there to support an argument which doesn't stack up. There is absolutely no way we'd have finished top 4 last year without him. Can we do so without him? It'll be tough but the new signings are good and we've got time to make more signings so we've got a chance.

The new signings did worry me. I hoped they were an attempt to show Robin we're trying to show a bit of ambition but I feared they were because we knew he was going. Part of me thinks we should keep him this year. We won't get loads for him anyway, I don't think he'll sulk his way through the season and I think we'll qualify for the CL next season with him which would be worth more than we'd get for him anyway. It also buys us time to think about more replacements. But the mood on here suggests his position would be difficult. That said, we are a load of fickle twats - a couple of goals and we'd be singing his name again.

[GP]

We won't get anything near that for him.

The Club need to make it clear (and stick to it) that either he is seeing out his contract or get him out the door immediately. We just can't have the same shit we had last year.

Because of his injury record and his age, his value is nowhere near the sums a lot of people believe. This in a perverse way is good for the Club because there is less to lose financially by making him see his contract out.

He needs to go now, and he needs to go abroad.

[Munchies]

How will our team shape up now we know he's going ? Podolski to take his position ?

[GP]

The 2nd one wasn't 'soft', it was farcical, possibly corrupt. You're cherry picking a few bad games here and there to support an argument which doesn't stack up. There is absolutely no way we'd have finished top 4 last year without him. Can we do so without him? It'll be tough but the new signings are good and we've got time to make more signings so we've got a chance.

The new signings did worry me. I hoped they were an attempt to show Robin we're trying to show a bit of ambition but I feared they were because we knew he was going. Part of me thinks we should keep him this year. We won't get loads for him anyway, I don't think he'll sulk his way through the season and I think we'll qualify for the CL next season with him which would be worth more than we'd get for him anyway. It also buys us time to think about more replacements. But the mood on here suggests his position would be difficult. That said, we are a load of fickle twats - a couple of goals and we'd be singing his name again.

His position is untenable. The sole purpose of his statement today is to force a move.

[GP]

How will our team shape up now we know he's going ? Podolski to take his position ?

Giroud. Podolski on the left.

[Munchies]

Giroud. Podolski on the left.

Hopefully Podolski is decent there, at the Euros he looked shite.

[Letters]

His position is untenable. The sole purpose of his statement today is to force a move.Agree with the 2nd part of that, not sure about the first.
You go to games, you know how fickle people are. He bangs in a couple of goals and people will soon be cheering for him.

[Letters]

Hopefully Podolski is decent there, at the Euros he looked shite.
So did van Persie tbh, he's got a good record overall, he's obviously a decent enough player.

[jelgoon]

Well I think he is worth at least twenty million i really do. Hes one of the worlds top players and 29 is no age these days. I am sure we will sell him - the board are much too stingy to hold onto him. I agree with you that it was obvious that he was going - we would never have bought two strikers close season like that. I think its a huge loss - without him last season we would have come near the bottom there's no doubt about that. HE probably sat down and said to the board that we needed five or six real quality players and the board refused to commit.


The 2nd one wasn't 'soft', it was farcical, possibly corrupt. You're cherry picking a few bad games here and there to support an argument which doesn't stack up. There is absolutely no way we'd have finished top 4 last year without him. Can we do so without him? It'll be tough but the new signings are good and we've got time to make more signings so we've got a chance.

The new signings did worry me. I hoped they were an attempt to show Robin we're trying to show a bit of ambition but I feared they were because we knew he was going. Part of me thinks we should keep him this year. We won't get loads for him anyway, I don't think he'll sulk his way through the season and I think we'll qualify for the CL next season with him which would be worth more than we'd get for him anyway. It also buys us time to think about more replacements. But the mood on here suggests his position would be difficult. That said, we are a load of fickle twats - a couple of goals and we'd be singing his name again.

[GP]

Agree with the 2nd part of that, not sure about the first.
You go to games, you know how fickle people are. He bangs in a couple of goals and people will soon be cheering for him.

I'm not sure. There's a fair amount of resentment right now.

I don't think he'll kick another ball for us anyway, so it's a moo point.

[Joker]

The 2nd one wasn't 'soft', it was farcical, possibly corrupt. You're cherry picking a few bad games here and there to support an argument which doesn't stack up. There is absolutely no way we'd have finished top 4 last year without him. Can we do so without him? It'll be tough but the new signings are good and we've got time to make more signings so we've got a chance.

The new signings did worry me. I hoped they were an attempt to show Robin we're trying to show a bit of ambition but I feared they were because we knew he was going. Part of me thinks we should keep him this year. We won't get loads for him anyway, I don't think he'll sulk his way through the season and I think we'll qualify for the CL next season with him which would be worth more than we'd get for him anyway. It also buys us time to think about more replacements. But the mood on here suggests his position would be difficult. That said, we are a load of fickle twats - a couple of goals and we'd be singing his name again.

If you look at his goalscoring record against the top teams, and compare it to players like Rooney, Drogba etc, you'll see how inferior it is. Yes, last season he did score a hattrick against Chelsea and against United, but look back over 8 seasons and you'll realise he's got this uncanny knack of disappearing when we most need him. If you want more evidence, look at his goalscoring record for the Netherlands. Mostly, it's +1s against poor sides like Andorra. In the World Cup 2010, he was totally ineffective against Brazil, Uruguay and Spain and Slovakia, all the knockout phase games. The guy can't do it when the pressure's on, and he'll be found out wherever he goes. I said the same thing after the 8-2 defeat against United, when he missed the penalty which would have levelled the game.

[Kano]

Agree with the 2nd part of that, not sure about the first.
You go to games, you know how fickle people are. He bangs in a couple of goals and people will soon be cheering for him.

he is dutch though, so therefore a ****. not sure how beneficial it would be to have a moody sod dragging his heels around the place. sell him if we can - the amount doesn't matter, we'll make our money back.

[Letters]

If you look at his goalscoring record against the top teams, and compare it to players like Rooney, Drogba etc, you'll see how inferior it is.Can you post the stats? I remember he scored a hat-trick against Chelsea last year and the winner against Liverpool (debatable whether they're a top team tbf)

[Letters]

he is dutch though, so therefore a ****. not sure how beneficial it would be to have a moody sod dragging his heels around the place. sell him if we can - the amount doesn't matter, we'll make our money back.
I wouldn't be at all beneficial. I'm giving RvP a bit of credit and thinking he won't spend a season sulking up the place. I may be wrong.

Agree with GP though, it's moo. I don't think he'll play for us again.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Can you post the stats? I remember he scored a hat-trick against Chelsea last year and the winner against Liverpool (debatable whether they're a top team tbf)
Just.

Maybe.

Once.

No.

[Joker]

Can you post the stats? I remember he scored a hat-trick against Chelsea last year and the winner against Liverpool (debatable whether they're a top team tbf)

These are the goals I remember him scoring against the "top" sides (I include Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham in that list)

04-05:
Didn't score against any of the above.

05-06
Didn't score against any of the above.

06-07
Scored at home against United.

07-08
Didn't score against any of the above.

08-09
Scored at home against Liverpool, at home against United in the UCL semi final (pointless penalty).

09-10
Scored 2 at home against Tottenham.

10-11
Scored against Liverpool at home, against Tottenham away.

11-12

Scored against United home and away, a hattrick against Chelsea away, against Tottenham at home, and 2 goals against Liverpool away.

So, apart from last season, his scoring record against the best sides isn't anything to write home about.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Well I think he is worth at least twenty million i really do.

I hope you are the Chairman of a major football club.

Sadly you probably aren't.

[Xhaka Can’t]

These are the goals I remember him scoring against the "top" sides (I include Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham in that list)

04-05:
Didn't score against any of the above.

05-06
Didn't score against any of the above.

06-07
Scored at home against United.

07-08
Didn't score against any of the above.

08-09
Scored at home against Liverpool, at home against United in the UCL semi final (pointless penalty).

09-10
Scored 2 at home against Tottenham.

10-11
Scored against Liverpool at home, against Tottenham away.

11-12

Scored against United home and away, a hattrick against Chelsea away, against Tottenham at home, and 2 goals against Liverpool away.

So, apart from last season, his scoring record against the best sides isn't anything to write home about.

Those aren't stats.

Back up an argument.

For once.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Emmanuel Eboue ‏@TheRealEboue
@Persie_Official why why why ! Why have you left wenger to suffer another loss again. You would never be the same if you leave. Stay pls



Emmanuel Eboue ‏@TheRealEboue
@Persie_Official has an injury free season for the 1st time . Score a lot of goals and now he is running away. #USERS .



Emmanuel Eboue ‏@TheRealEboue
When @Persie_Official has injury and couldn't play. He didn't say he wanted to go . Oh well , I lost my respect for you captain.


eboue is a legend :bow:

[Özim]

If we'd thought RVP was going to sign we'd have never signed two strikers, one maybe but never too. There were other areas of the team that needed strenghtening and with Podolski and RVP up front we would have been fine there.

He wasn't try to force a move, we knew we were going to sell him, there was nothing to force.

[fakeyank]

eboue is a legend :bow:

God damn, I want that guy's (Eboue's) baby!

[Ollie the Optimist]

If we'd thought RVP was going to sign we'd have never signed two strikers, one maybe but never too. There were other areas of the team that needed strenghtening and with Podolski and RVP up front we would have been fine there.

He wasn't try to force a move, we knew we were going to sell him, there was nothing to force.

apart from the fact he has now made us accept any bid for him rather then get decent money. he asked for ambition, we gave him that. he was forced us to sell him at whatever bid comes in because he has made it clear he cannot stay at our club. ****

[Munchies]

eboue is a legend :bow:

:lol:, Fake but knowing Eboue it sounds real !

[RomfordPele]

Fuck it, he's a bad kick away from the glue factory anyway. Suspect we got the best out of him this season so it may be a blessing in disguise.

Makes the club look like an absolute laughing stock again though. Gazidis really has to go.

[The Verminator]

eboue is a legend :bow:

Damn, and I thought Eboue has already maxed out on the awesome chart! :D

[Xhaka Can’t]

We were never going to get huge bids in any case.

If he was 26, no injury record and had the season he just had, the bid would have been stratospheric. But last point apart, none of that is the case. It ought to be easy for us if we want him to see out his contract because financially, there is little to lose.

[Power n Glory]

'A statement for the fans'

Bollocks.

Not happy because the club doesn't sign players.

The club sign 2 high quality players

Not happy with the players signed.

Lying shitbag.

Robin, you're a cunt

He was bound to make a statement because the club put a gag on him during the Euros and tried to leak stories suggesting it was about matching Man City's wages. This is his defence and if he'd have stayed silent and left without an explanation, you'd still accuse him of leaving for higher wages and being a ****. He can't win. Not with us anyway! :lol:

[Joker]

Those aren't stats.

Back up an argument.

For once.

Fine, in the Premiership he's scored 13 goals against the top sides, and given that he's played 8 seasons, he'd have played at most 64 games. Obviously he hasn't played against all the top 4 sides in all seasons, so let's say he's missed 10 matches. Then his games:goal ratio is 4, which is hardly world class is it?

[fakeyank]

We were never going to get huge bids in any case.

If he was 26, no injury record and had the season he just had, the bid would have been stratospheric. But last point apart, none of that is the case. It ought to be easy for us if we want him to see out his contract because financially, there is little to lose.

Agree.. we should either get a big bid or let him see out his contract. I just fucking hope Wenger doesnt go on a hunger strike to let one of his 'son' go on the cheap ala Cesc.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Fine, in the Premiership he's scored 13 goals against the top sides, and given that he's played 8 seasons, he'd have played at most 64 games. Obviously he hasn't played against all the top 4 sides in all seasons, so let's say he's missed 10 matches. Then his games:goal ratio is 4, which is hardly world class is it?

Lets just say you get the stats.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Frimpong is gonna kill him.

[Ernesto]

All this f***in shit started with Fabregas. I would've gone as far back as Anelka, but the club showed balls when it came to him. He wanted to go to Lazio, Lazio wanted him, but they acted like shitbags. Arsenal didn't sell him to Lazio, they sold to Real Madrid.

I'll ignore the Vieira and Henry sagas because it was down to the club in that instance. Those players were surplus to requirements, and the CLUB got rid.

When it came to Fabregas, he acted dishonourably while at the club, his Spanish and now Barcelona team-mates acted like right c*nts and we still gave in to a measly offer last season- to the very club acting like dicks. He was the first player we sold while at his peak since Anelka. Nasri left soon after, to a f***in Premiership club. I mean, what on earth kind of message does that send out?!

And now van Persie wants out. It was more of a 50/50 scenario is his case, because Wenger WAS patient with him while he was persistently injured and the club HAVE made big signings of international-level to try and placate RvP. Yet, after all this shit, he wants out, and Arsenal say we have to respect him. Respect? These modern players don't know the meaning of the word.

[Joker]

Lets just say you get the stats.

I don't know where to get these types of stats from.

[Flavs]

Bye bye hope you die cos you're a **** in the morning

:p

[Özim]

apart from the fact he has now made us accept any bid for him rather then get decent money. he asked for ambition, we gave him that. he was forced us to sell him at whatever bid comes in because he has made it clear he cannot stay at our club. ****
We never showed ambition, even these two deals are to replace him. Don't fool yourself, we pat ourselves on the back for getting 4th place every year, that's the sum of our ambition and no top player is going to want to stick around for that.

It's funny how every top player we ever have wants to leave at some point and yet it's never the clubs fault.

[GP]

I hope he gets his dick snapped off by the Hamburgler.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

These are the goals I remember him scoring against the "top" sides (I include Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham in that list)

04-05:
Didn't score against any of the above.

05-06
Didn't score against any of the above.

06-07
Scored at home against United.

07-08
Didn't score against any of the above.

08-09
Scored at home against Liverpool, at home against United in the UCL semi final (pointless penalty).

09-10
Scored 2 at home against Tottenham.

10-11
Scored against Liverpool at home, against Tottenham away.

11-12

Scored against United home and away, a hattrick against Chelsea away, against Tottenham at home, and 2 goals against Liverpool away.

So, apart from last season, his scoring record against the best sides isn't anything to write home about.

He scored two against Chelsea away in 08/09. It's a silly post because we know how often he has been injured. And anyway, they aren't the only teams we face in a season.

[GP]

He's also a pedo rapist.

[Joker]

He scored two against Chelsea away in 08/09. It's a silly post because we know how often he has been injured. And anyway, they aren't the only teams we face in a season.

True I forgot about that. Yes we do play other teams, but surely a mark of a top player is scoring in the really important matches when it really matters? How many points has RVP actually won Arsenal over his career here? Scoring the second in a 6-2 loss against United is hardly a crucial contribution, and if you compare the points won by RVP relative to players like Rooney and Drogba, I'm sure he wouldn't look as good.

[Kano]

Fine, in the Premiership he's scored 13 goals against the top sides, and given that he's played 8 seasons, he'd have played at most 64 games. Obviously he hasn't played against all the top 4 sides in all seasons, so let's say he's missed 10 matches. Then his games:goal ratio is 4, which is hardly world class is it?

depends how far back you want to stretch the title of world class.

last season? without doubt. who cares what he done 4 years ago, what relevance does it have.

find a new angle, then come back.

[Joker]

depends how far back you want to stretch the title of world class.

last season? without doubt. who cares what he done 4 years ago, what relevance does it have.

find a new angle, then come back.

You can't be a world class player if you've only performed consistently over one season. Players like Henry consistently performed brilliantly season in season out, which is why they deservedly got the label "world class". Same with Vieira, which is why I wasn't that irritated when he constantly looked like he wanted to leave to a big European club in the Summer. He had won us trophies and was a consistently top performer, and could understand that he was taking advantage of the options available to him.

[Injury Time]

He's also a pedo rapist.

Rapes pedos? Guess he's got some work to do in Manchester then...

[Alpha]

Denying that RVP is not class is not fair at all . RVP is and will remain a top player . He stood by the team when we needed him . We have to respect him as he made his position clear and give the Board enough time to act . The ambition of the team has always been questioned . By the media , the fans , even in this forum voices have raised in that regard . Blaming RVP for his statement is just frustration as usual . let's replace him as soon as we can and move on .

[milla]

How will our team shape up now we know he's going ? Podolski to take his position ?

Might as well revert back to our traditional 4-4-1-1 with Podolski behind Giroud/Walcott. Ox,Rozza,Song/Arteta and Gerv in midfield. :coffee:

[Kano]

You can't be a world class player if you've only performed consistently over one season. Players like Henry consistently performed brilliantly season in season out, which is why they deservedly got the label "world class". Same with Vieira, which is why I wasn't that irritated when he constantly looked like he wanted to leave to a big European club in the Summer. He had won us trophies and was a consistently top performer, and could understand that he was taking advantage of the options available to him.
ask any professional in the game that knows infinitely more when it comes to judging and see what their response will be.

stats:

Chelsea: 5 in 12
Liverpool: 4 in 8
Tottenham: 5 in 12
Man Utd: 3 in 9

if you judge any player on stats without taking into consideration the performance of the rest of the team, then you have absolutely no idea about how a team game works.

[Power n Glory]

Denying that RVP is not class is not fair at all . RVP is and will remain a top player . He stood by the team when we needed him . We have to respect him as he made his position clear and give the Board enough time to act . The ambition of the team has always been questioned . By the media , the fans , even in this forum voices have raised in that regard . Blaming RVP for his statement is just frustration as usual . let's replace him as soon as we can and move on .

He had to make a statement otherwise the smear campaign would have been on. The club tried to pull some BS during the Euros suggesting he wanted Man City money but he couldn't fight back. His Dad had to step in to rubbish the claims. We all knew from when Cesc left that RVP wasn't going to sign a new contract. You could see he lost faith in Wenger when he made one of the dumbest subs he's ever made with Ox coming off for Arshavin. We all know the club isn't going in the right direction and this just confirms that point again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

True I forgot about that. Yes we do play other teams, but surely a mark of a top player is scoring in the really important matches when it really matters? How many points has RVP actually won Arsenal over his career here? Scoring the second in a 6-2 loss against United is hardly a crucial contribution, and if you compare the points won by RVP relative to players like Rooney and Drogba, I'm sure he wouldn't look as good.

Well scoring a goal doesn't make the rest of the team defend worse. I can think of numerous games in the last two seasons (when unquestionably he has been at his best for us) and scored goals to get us back in to the game...which we go on to lose. You know like the equaliser against Man Utd or the equaliser in the Carling Cup final.

However he did score the winning goal more than any other player last season, a season when he was able to sustain himself throughout it.

[Syn]

I’m finding it hard to be annoyed at either party right now. And I understand if other gooners are annoyed with Van Persie. IMO his statement is bullshit. We’ve brought in two excellent goalscorers to reduce the burden on Robin. But, again, I’m not annoyed with him about that.

But lets get one thing straight - he is a top player right now. Absolutely phenomenal. This ‘a good 18 months out of 8 years’ thing could be used to argue against his loyalty but the last 18 months is the level of footballer he is. Do I think he’ll have another season like the last one? Probably not. But he’ll still be top notch because we’re not talking about his form, we’re talking about ability.

It’s very damaging for the club to lose him. I’m trying not to get annoyed about it - but the one thing that is a little ****ish of Van Persie is to release this statement and make his position clear. Transparency might be seen as a good thing for us fans desperate to know what’s going on but it really doesn’t help the club in negotiations at all.

[12gaugepump]

Gutted!!! Yes he has a right to decide where he plays, its just sad that he has chosen not to repay the faith we showed in him. I hear alot of people talking about ' he needs a team doin this n doing that, arsenal don't deserve him as he is world class. In eight years he has played no more than 2 & 1/2 yrs worth of games. He is part of the reason we are trophyless for that long! He gets healthy then wants to have a zen moment? It was only 3 seasons ago some on here were calling for him to be sold because he wasn't carying his weight as he was always out injured. He finally puts a shift in then he wants out cuz we lack ambition? Farewell world class RVP, I hope you find what you are looking for.

[jelgoon]

Hes world class. NO doubt about it. You cant compare him with Vieira or Henry as he was injured a lot more than them. Henry is also probably the greatest player to play in the PL and Vieira not far behind. I dont think many people are interested in your stats and how he did against certain teams.Ask anyone - even fans of other clubs - and they will all say he is a world class striker. Thats all there is to it.And for the third season in a r row we have lost a world class player and are now a bit of an embarrassment i reckon.

QUOTE=Joker;162029]You can't be a world class player if you've only performed consistently over one season. Players like Henry consistently performed brilliantly season in season out, which is why they deservedly got the label "world class". Same with Vieira, which is why I wasn't that irritated when he constantly looked like he wanted to leave to a big European club in the Summer. He had won us trophies and was a consistently top performer, and could understand that he was taking advantage of the options available to him.[/QUOTE]

[Dennis Bendtner]

I cannot see why people would be surprised at this. Maybe the timing and manner, I guess. Not the nature. It looked very clear for a long time. Even if we take his position regarding ambition :bow: as totally honest, 28 going on 29 is a very awkward stage for a contract. Even if the ambition wasn't a problem, the player still wants a long deal and a shitload of money. Three years (can't see us having offered more than that)? Meh. City and the Juve mafia can give him more.

But yeah, he's just done a massive public shit on the club...of course he's going to be sold. The blame game's a bit tiresome by now. City looks the smart bet.

[Power n Glory]

I’m finding it hard to be annoyed at either party right now. And I understand if other gooners are annoyed with Van Persie. IMO his statement is bullshit. We’ve brought in two excellent goalscorers to reduce the burden on Robin. But, again, I’m not annoyed with him about that.

But lets get one thing straight - he is a top player right now. Absolutely phenomenal. This ‘a good 18 months out of 8 years’ thing could be used to argue against his loyalty but the last 18 months is the level of footballer he is. Do I think he’ll have another season like the last one? Probably not. But he’ll still be top notch because we’re not talking about his form, we’re talking about ability.

It’s very damaging for the club to lose him. I’m trying not to get annoyed about it - but the one thing that is a little ****ish of Van Persie is to release this statement and make his position clear. Transparency might be seen as a good thing for us fans desperate to know what’s going on but it really doesn’t help the club in negotiations at all.

There isn't a club out there foolish enough to spend £30m on a player with a year left on his contract. Every club that's interested knows the situation so it hasn't really changed anything in regards to negotiations. In fact, if we continued to bury our heads in the sand and act as if he's staying, then that's a sure way to lose out on money because clubs would just wait it out until he's free. The best thing to do now is to invite a bidding war. That's the only way we're going to get a little extra for him.

[IBK]

Denying that RVP is not class is not fair at all . RVP is and will remain a top player . He stood by the team when we needed him . We have to respect him as he made his position clear and give the Board enough time to act . The ambition of the team has always been questioned . By the media , the fans , even in this forum voices have raised in that regard . Blaming RVP for his statement is just frustration as usual . let's replace him as soon as we can and move on .

I agree with this and its better than the Cesc situation. Whats so depressing is that this confirms what many of us knew deep down. Arsenal is now beyond doubt (relatively) small time.

What worries me more is that the people who run our club don't seem to know this, or care.

[Marc Overmars]

A part of me does hope he ends up at City. He certainly wouldn't be treated the same as he is here and he'd probably be in and out of the side because Mancini needs to massage all the egos there to keep them happy. He'd regret that move in an instant. Plus we'd probably get a bit more from them in terms of the price.

[Power n Glory]

I agree with this and its better than the Cesc situation. Whats so depressing is that this confirms what many of us knew deep down. Arsenal is now beyond doubt (relatively) small time.

What worries me more is that the people who run our club don't seem to know this, or care.

The difference between Cesc and RVP is length of their contracts. Cesc had a long running deal while is down to his final year. If he had 3 more years left to run, I seriously doubt that he'd sit still and wait to see if things would get better here especially if clubs were trying to tap him up.

[IBK]

The difference between Cesc and RVP is length of their contracts. Cesc had a long running deal while is down to his final year. If he had 3 more years left to run, I seriously doubt that he'd sit still and wait to see if things would get better here especially if clubs were trying to tap him up.

What I meant was that RVP's been more transparent earlier.

[Alpha]

I agree with this and its better than the Cesc situation. Whats so depressing is that this confirms what many of us knew deep down. Arsenal is now beyond doubt (relatively) small time.

What worries me more is that the people who run our club don't seem to know this, or care.

That's sadly the truth . should we blame players who want out for our lack of ambition ? Which top player who like to play for Stoke ? Wigan ? or Fulham ? Yes that is what we are now . More interesting in maintaining ourselves in the premier league than winning anything .Didn't Wenger say last time that being third is just winning a trophy ? I can't see Fergie saying that .

[Syn]

There isn't a club out there foolish enough to spend £30m on a player with a year left on his contract. Every club that's interested knows the situation so it hasn't really changed anything in regards to negotiations. In fact, if we continued to bury our heads in the sand and act as if he's staying, then that's a sure way to lose out on money because clubs would just wait it out until he's free. The best thing to do now is to invite a bidding war. That's the only way we're going to get a little extra for him.

It doesn't matter if we were never dealing with £30m offers, whatever we could've got - £15m+ sounded reasonable. I don't think any club would've known any more than we do. The bottom line is that Van Persie has made it clear that he is not willing to sign a new contract. That matters. That has knocked a few million off the asking price. If he hadn't said that and kept his mouth quiet, there is a chance we could say he is still considering a new contract so any transfer bid would have to be reasonable even if his preference would be to move.

Also the reason he has given - even if he felt that way, and even if it's true - is a huge slap on the face of the club and doesn't help us attract any new players either. What we think is common knowledge is not. Arsenal and Arsene Wenger do indeed have a huge reputation and the current captain of the club saying we don't have the right ambition is a problem.

[fakeyank]

Straight swap for Aguero

[Dennis Bendtner]

A part of me does hope he ends up at City. He certainly wouldn't be treated the same as he is here and he'd probably be in and out of the side because Mancini needs to massage all the egos there to keep them happy. He'd regret that move in an instant. Plus we'd probably get a bit more from them in terms of the price.

I know very little about the financial regulations but it seems like Van Persie is the type of player the likes of City need to steer clear of to meet them. Nearing his thirties on a large long-term contract. But maybe that is just wishful thinking. Only really going by Chelsea's sudden influx of young players (that cost a fortune, granted). It'd very much be a too many cooks situation for City...but Mankini wants him.

[Power n Glory]

What I meant was that RVP's been more transparent earlier.

But this is crunch time and he has no real choice but to. He has a year left on his contract and something has to be said this summer. We slapped a gag order on him during the Euros, tried to peddle some nonsense about him wanting more money and this is the response as soon as the tournament is over. He can't say he's happy hear and committed with a year left on his contract but during the season, while he was playing and when asked about his contract he played the PR game. He said he'd always be a Gunner, loved the club and loved London. But you can't keep saying that if you only have a year left on your contract. That's the difference between the two cases. Time. It's not a case of whose handled the situation with more class or been more transparent. Because Robin's only has a year left, he's had to come clean. Plus, we couldn't afford to be transparent with Cesc's case considering the length of his contract and due to the fact that Barca were playing games with us on the transfer fee.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

id swap rvp for de jong, dzeko and zabaleta.

[PGFC]

I'd swap him for a bag of shit.

[Grebbo]

Not really bothered tbh, we're used to losing our best players. RVP is a great player but we've lost better in the past.

He can fuck right off. Should probably have kept his mouth shut until he got his move.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

bit harsh on the bag of shit.

id take half a bag.

[Marc Overmars]

Not really bothered tbh, we're used to losing our best players. RVP is a great player but we've lost better in the past.

He can fuck right off. Should probably have kept his mouth shut until he got his move.

We might have lost better but I don't think we've lost one who was so influential at the time of departure. RVP had a better season than Henry 03/04 in my books and I don't think the blow of losing him should be understated. It's fair to say we probably wouldn't be in the Champions League if he had missed even just a handful of games last season.

It's a very damaging blow to the club on and off the pitch.

[Power n Glory]

It doesn't matter if we were never dealing with £30m offers, whatever we could've got - £15m+ sounded reasonable. I don't think any club would've known any more than we do. The bottom line is that Van Persie has made it clear that he is not willing to sign a new contract. That matters. That has knocked a few million off the asking price. If he hadn't said that and kept his mouth quiet, there is a chance we could say he is still considering a new contract so any transfer bid would have to be reasonable even if his preference would be to move.

Also the reason he has given - even if he felt that way, and even if it's true - is a huge slap on the face of the club and doesn't help us attract any new players either. What we think is common knowledge is not. Arsenal and Arsene Wenger do indeed have a huge reputation and the current captain of the club saying we don't have the right ambition is a problem.

He has an agent and he's out there shopping him around. Clubs know what's going on and they're not stupid. Didn't Juve bid £8m for him before this news broke? We were never going to get £15m for him unless we're selling to City or someone with deep pockets. No club would buy that lie about him possibly signing a new deal, that just isn't realistic because why in the world would we want to sell him if he's going to sign a new deal?

It's a slap in the face to the club but we've done our fair share of mud slinging. Months ago, Wenger hinted that a player approaching 30 is past his peak and it isn't worth giving him a massive contract. That's pretty insulting. Next, we slap a gagging order on him and start acting as if he's asking for City wages. A clear attempt to try and turn fan favour against him. His father had to clear that nonsense up. The final slap; Wenger comes and lays the guilt trip suggesting that he should stay loyal to us because we've stood by him during the hard times! That's a piss take.

Wenger and the club are taking the piss. RVP has had an ugly injury record for us and we have stood by him. But should sacrifice his career and possibly go without a Championship medal because of this? All players have the ultimate goal of winning silverware. When you're approaching 30 you only have a few years left in the game at top level and Wenger knows this. Wenger can keep on building teams for another 10 - 15 years if he wants to. He has the time to gamble and tinker until he gets what he wants. A managers career is long. The Board, they're already swimming in what they desire...the ****s! Wenger and the Board may be happy with where they are and satisfied with the direction we're going in but you can't ask a player that has a short career to sacrifice his goal. The last thing anyone wants is to look back on their career with regret. It's okay for Wenger, he can keep going until he's physically unable to do the job as a manager and that could be 15 or 20 years away and in that time he could have won the Champs League and few more league titles. That can't be said for RVP. Plus, Wenger has already shown his cards on how he feels about players over 30 and that bastard isn't so quick to hand out coaching roles to former players, so forget him.

[Syn]

He has an agent and he's out there shopping him around. Clubs know what's going on and they're not stupid. Didn't Juve bid £8m for him before this news broke? We were never going to get £15m for him unless we're selling to City or someone with deep pockets. No club would buy that lie about him possibly signing a new deal, that just isn't realistic because why in the world would we want to sell him if he's going to sign a new deal?

It's a slap in the face to the club but we've done our fair share of mud slinging. Months ago, Wenger hinted that a player approaching 30 is past his peak and it isn't worth giving him a massive contract. That's pretty insulting. Next, we slap a gagging order on him and start acting as if he's asking for City wages. A clear attempt to try and turn fan favour against him. His father had to clear that nonsense up. The final slap; Wenger comes and lays the guilt trip suggesting that he should stay loyal to us because we've stood by him during the hard times! That's a piss take.

Wenger and the club are taking the piss. RVP has had an ugly injury record for us and we have stood by him. But should sacrifice his career and possibly go without a Championship medal because of this? All players have the ultimate goal of winning silverware. When you're approaching 30 you only have a few years left in the game at top level and Wenger knows this. Wenger can keep on building teams for another 10 - 15 years if he wants to. He has the time to gamble and tinker until he gets what he wants. A managers career is long. The Board, they're already swimming in what they desire...the ****s! Wenger and the Board may be happy with where they are and satisfied with the direction we're going in but you can't ask a player that has a short career to sacrifice his goal. The last thing anyone wants is to look back on their career with regret. It's okay for Wenger, he can keep going until he's physically unable to do the job as a manager and that could be 15 or 20 years away and in that time he could have won the Champs League and few more league titles. That can't be said for RVP. Plus, Wenger has already shown his cards on how he feels about players over 30 and that bastard isn't so quick to hand out coaching roles to former players, so forget him.

Fair point about the first case. Maybe other clubs do know exactly what the situation is - if Van Persie is looking to move, his agent would normally be generating some interest. But I really don't agree about the mud slinging from the club or Arsene hanging Robin out to dry. Of course the player's career is short but I think if our previous stars had shown just a bit more patience, we would really have a squad right now that is capable of winning trophies. And that's all you can build for.

Blaming the club for not winning trophies is silly given how tough the competition is. All you can expect the club to do is get a squad together that is among the best and is capable of winning trophies. I think if Nasri and Fabregas had stuck around, right now, we'd have a squad that was very much capable of challenging for the title. If we don't win, the players have to accept a lot of the blame themselves. Nobody can win trophies for them - it's up to them to earn it, and that's the only way a trophy means something. Van Persie wasn't given a fighting chance of winning a trophy last year because the squad was poor. I'm sure he would be upset with the club for that. But if Nasri and Fabregas were around, right now, we'd be in great shape.

Assuming that it's about trophies is a big assumption in the first place IMO. I have no doubt if we were offering Man City wages, he'd have penned a deal a long time ago. More often than not, it boils down to money.

[Power n Glory]

Fair point about the first case. Maybe other clubs do know exactly what the situation is - if Van Persie is looking to move, his agent would normally be generating some interest. But I really don't agree about the mud slinging from the club or Arsene hanging Robin out to dry. Of course the player's career is short but I think if our previous stars had shown just a bit more patience, we would really have a squad right now that is capable of winning trophies. And that's all you can build for.

Blaming the club for not winning trophies is silly given how tough the competition is. All you can expect the club to do is get a squad together that is among the best and is capable of winning trophies. I think if Nasri and Fabregas had stuck around, right now, we'd have a squad that was very much capable of challenging for the title. If we don't win, the players have to accept a lot of the blame themselves. Nobody can win trophies for them - it's up to them to earn it, and that's the only way a trophy means something. Van Persie wasn't given a fighting chance of winning a trophy last year because the squad was poor. I'm sure he would be upset with the club for that. But if Nasri and Fabregas were around, right now, we'd be in great shape.

Assuming that it's about trophies is a big assumption in the first place IMO. I have no doubt if we were offering Man City wages, he'd have penned a deal a long time ago. More often than not, it boils down to money.

No, even with Nasri and Cesc we were still short and the club refused to sign a defender in January even though we knew Vermaelen would be out for the whole season. We faffed about with the goalkeepers as well and started Almunia in goal for the season. If Fabianski hadn't have gotten himself injured, we may have dropped more points with that clutz in goal.

We don't buy players to build. We buy to replace and put out fires. That's what Poldoski and Giroud are about. They're replacements for Arshavin/Theo and RVP. If players don't leave, we don't buy. The players have to accept responsibility for loses but when the manager chooses to go into the season with an inexperienced squad and lack of quality in certain areas, there is only so much you can do.

[Munchies]

id swap rvp for de jong, dzeko and zabaleta.

I'd take De Jong but the other two aren't that great.

[GP]

Fair point about the first case. Maybe other clubs do know exactly what the situation is - if Van Persie is looking to move, his agent would normally be generating some interest. But I really don't agree about the mud slinging from the club or Arsene hanging Robin out to dry. Of course the player's career is short but I think if our previous stars had shown just a bit more patience, we would really have a squad right now that is capable of winning trophies. And that's all you can build for.

Blaming the club for not winning trophies is silly given how tough the competition is. All you can expect the club to do is get a squad together that is among the best and is capable of winning trophies. I think if Nasri and Fabregas had stuck around, right now, we'd have a squad that was very much capable of challenging for the title. If we don't win, the players have to accept a lot of the blame themselves. Nobody can win trophies for them - it's up to them to earn it, and that's the only way a trophy means something. Van Persie wasn't given a fighting chance of winning a trophy last year because the squad was poor. I'm sure he would be upset with the club for that. But if Nasri and Fabregas were around, right now, we'd be in great shape.

Assuming that it's about trophies is a big assumption in the first place IMO. I have no doubt if we were offering Man City wages, he'd have penned a deal a long time ago. More often than not, it boils down to money.

Of course It's about money.

Otherwise I assume he'll be entertaining offers from Celtic?

[Ollie the Optimist]

My info that RVP unimpressed by back room and medical staff as well as sales and lack of top signings over past year.

that is a tweet from the daily mail head of football.


if that is true, shows waht a **** van persie is. medical staff look after him for 8 years and now this. money grabbing ****

[Power n Glory]

Of course It's about money.

Otherwise I assume he'll be entertaining offers from Celtic?

If it's about money, he'd end up in China.

If a club can offer all massive wages to their star players, they can probably attract the best players, hence build a competitive squad and challenge for titles.

[Grebbo]

We might have lost better but I don't think we've lost one who was so influential at the time of departure. RVP had a better season than Henry 03/04 in my books and I don't think the blow of losing him should be understated. It's fair to say we probably wouldn't be in the Champions League if he had missed even just a handful of games last season.

It's a very damaging blow to the club on and off the pitch.

Nah, Cesc carried us for years. It's only because he was injured for most of his last season that people underestimate what an amazing player he was for us.

The thing with RVP is we think he's so influential because he was our only striker last season - there was no-one else. We now have two (good) new strikers.

I'm gutted RVP is leaving but I wont shed a tear like I have for previous players lol

[Bergkampwonderland10]

Of course It's about money.

Otherwise I assume he'll be entertaining offers from Celtic?


It's not about the money this time...we just can't match his ambition in the transfer market and if you read the last part of the full statement...Van Persie hints as to one of the reasons why...

"As soon as Mr Gazidis is back from his two-week holiday in America further meetings will follow and I will update you if and when there are more developments."

Anyone else know why our CEO is taking a 2-week break in the middle of the transfer window...a window that is probably one of the most important in our recent history? Anyone?

[Syn]

No, even with Nasri and Cesc we were still short and the club refused to sign a defender in January even though we knew Vermaelen would be out for the whole season. We faffed about with the goalkeepers as well and started Almunia in goal for the season. If Fabianski hadn't have gotten himself injured, we may have dropped more points with that clutz in goal.

We don't buy players to build. We buy to replace and put out fires. That's what Poldoski and Giroud are about. They're replacements for Arshavin/Theo and RVP. If players don't leave, we don't buy. The players have to accept responsibility for loses but when the manager chooses to go into the season with an inexperienced squad and lack of quality in certain areas, there is only so much you can do.

It turns out that way - that they are replacements. But I don't think that was the initial intention. Certainly not in this case - we desperately wanted (still want) Van Persie to stay. Wenger wouldn't have bothered with the guilt-trip otherwise.

I blame Wenger for being naive enough to keep emotionally investing in these players and expecting them to be (perhaps overly) patient. With the Ambramovich and the big money starting to roll in, 'patience' became more and more difficult. Wenger tries to build title-winning teams. People who act like he flicked a switch in 2005 and went to the other extreme are being silly because they want someone to blame. Arsene is still the same man who built a squad of Henry, Vieira, Pires, Ljungberg etc. and he's the same man who spent a club record on Wiltord when there were many other goalscorers at the club. He does want to add to existing talent. If we are not to accept 'money is tight' as an excuse, then I would say it is because Wenger is far too picky that we are left without investment. The truth, as always, is probably somewhere in between.

We could discuss this all day (and we have been for years!) but with regards to Van Persie, I do feel his statement was designed to make his position at the club untenable and it wasn't helpful for the club. I understand his reasons for wanting to leave but out of respect for the club (and I disagree that we've treated him badly), he could've just said he wanted a 'fresh challenge', or ideally nothing at all.

[Ollie the Optimist]

It's not about the money this time...we just can't match his ambition in the transfer market and if you read the last part of the full statement...Van Persie hints as to one of the reasons why...

"As soon as Mr Gazidis is back from his two-week holiday in America further meetings will follow and I will update you if and when there are more developments."

Anyone else know why our CEO is taking a 2-week break in the middle of the transfer window...a window that is probably one of the most important in our recent history? Anyone?


he isnt on holiday, the club have confirmed that so thats bollocks.

also why ask for ambition, watch us sign two good strikers then fuck off? we do what he asked and thats not good enough because he wants money. nothing else but money

[Power n Glory]

My info that RVP unimpressed by back room and medical staff as well as sales and lack of top signings over past year.

that is a tweet from the daily mail head of football.


if that is true, shows waht a **** van persie is. medical staff look after him for 8 years and now this. money grabbing ****

Might be some truth with the medical thing. He had to go abroad to see a specialist to get over his injury troubles. Let's not get carried away here, these gimps have crocked Wilshere. There a bloody rubbish and we have an appalling record.

[Grebbo]

Anyone else know why our CEO is taking a 2-week break in the middle of the transfer window...a window that is probably one of the most important in our recent history? Anyone?

Gaz doesn't deal with new signings, Dick Law does.

[Munchies]

Anyone else know why our CEO is taking a 2-week break in the middle of the transfer window...a window that is probably one of the most important in our recent history? Anyone?

Because we've finished all of our transfer dealings, and it's already been pre-determined to who RVP will join.

... Dont know what the fucking mong is doing

[Boss]

:haha: :haha:

Quite entertaining on here how players are treated as gods while they're here and it suddenly becomes about money when they leave.

Fabregas, Nasri, Henry, Adebayor, Clichy all won trophies after they left us, sure in some cases (Adebayor) it was about the money but for the others all didn't see the club competing for trophies. It's not a coincidence that our top players leave every year.

[Power n Glory]

he isnt on holiday, the club have confirmed that so thats bollocks.

also why ask for ambition, watch us sign two good strikers then fuck off? we do what he asked and thats not good enough because he wants money. nothing else but money

Those are two replacement signings. Not signings to make us stronger. That's pretty obvious now. Giroud was signed during the Euros after RVP had the talks and told Wenger and Gaz that he won't sign. That's when we sign a striker.

[jelgoon]

Hes right. Our medical staff are shit. Just look at the ridiculous amount of long-term injuries we have had. And he's right about our transfer policy which even the most loyal fans will admit is in tatters now. I just dont think he has done anything wrong. He is entitled to leave and felt it best to come out with a statement. Money is obviously a consideration but he wants to win things.


My info that RVP unimpressed by back room and medical staff as well as sales and lack of top signings over past year.

that is a tweet from the daily mail head of football.


if that is true, shows waht a **** van persie is. medical staff look after him for 8 years and now this. money grabbing ****

[Özim]

This club has no ambition, as Arsene Wenger put it last summer, you can't lose two of your best players in one summer and still be considered a big club.

We sell our best players, success boils down to putting a good enough group of players together and spending where necessary, one or two players aren't going to win you trophies by themselves and thus the buck stops with the manager (and the board to some extent for accepting it).

We've been guilty of under investment for years, when we do lose our top players we look to replace them with cheaper alternatives rather than looking to replace them for top quality. We got 7 years without a tin pot trophy and preach about 4th place as if it's some sort of holy grail and expect players to stay and help us when we don't help ourselves by strenghtening, despite constant calls from for this inside the squad.

All over Europe we're percived jokingly as the club that place nice football (debatable these days) but always fails when it matters, the better players now look at the club and are for the most part not interested in signing as they're aware we don't invest, don't win and don't have any world beaters they'd want to play alongside.

Pretty much every summer now we've seen one more of our top players leave, this doesn't send out a good message to potential signings about the ambitions of the club, you want your best players to stay then give them a reason to stay....don't expect them to sit around for wasting their career whilst make excuses about how young your team is, how other teams are spending so it's impossible to compete.

There's only so long a player is going to believe the pipedream the manager harps on about, our best kids (from the much heralded youth policy) have left (after losing faith) and many of the other are nowhere to be seen having failed to hit the heights they were suppose to. As for the great team spirit and togetherness we always hear about, it doesn't exist...to have great team spirit a group of players has to believe in the policy and the direction of the club, it clear next to noone does.

[jelgoon]

Exactly - just what i said before on here. He is 29 and wants to win something. Lets be honest - are we ever gonna win the league again under Wenger or the cl for that matter.Never.


:haha: :haha:

Quite entertaining on here how players are treated as gods while they're here and it suddenly becomes about money when they leave.

Fabregas, Nasri, Henry, Adebayor, Clichy all won trophies after they left us, sure in some cases (Adebayor) it was about the money but for the others all didn't see the club competing for trophies. It's not a coincidence that our top players leave every year.

[Syn]

:haha: :haha:

Quite entertaining on here how players are treated as gods while they're here and it suddenly becomes about money when they leave.

Fabregas, Nasri, Henry, Adebayor, Clichy all won trophies after they left us, sure in some cases (Adebayor) it was about the money but for the others all didn't see the club competing for trophies. It's not a coincidence that our top players leave every year.

If you want to pick out and debate/argue against a post, feel free to do so. Making generic (not to mention untrue - no significant portion of fans thought Henry, Clichy or Fabregas were leaving for money) comments like this is stupid.

[Ralpheroo72]

We carried him for 7 out of 8 seasons. He has one good season and then he's off, modern footballer in a nutshell. What gets me is everytime one of them leaves, we get the whole 'I love Arsenal blah blah blah!' ... no you dont, now just fuck off.

Dont worry, Gazidis will sort it out.....:rose:

[Özim]

:haha: :haha:

Quite entertaining on here how players are treated as gods while they're here and it suddenly becomes about money when they leave.

Fabregas, Nasri, Henry, Adebayor, Clichy all won trophies after they left us, sure in some cases (Adebayor) it was about the money but for the others all didn't see the club competing for trophies. It's not a coincidence that our top players leave every year.
Pretty much, we've been doing the same for years......the same thing happens every season with the club, on and off the pitch.

Noone can tell me Podolski and Giroud were signed to convince RVP to stay, why would we sign 2 strikers if we have RVP...there's other areas of the team that needed investment, one striker to share the load with RVP would have been adequate.

We knew exactly what was going to happen, PHW even came out to the press that we weren't going to break the bank, that was hardly a positive sign, saying it during negotiations is one thing but telling the press...come on.

Citing money is a copout and another way of rendering the club blameless for it's own failings.

[jelgoon]

Well we thought Clichy left for money but ure probably right about the other two.


If you want to pick out and debate/argue against a post, feel free to do so. Making generic (not to mention untrue - no significant portion of fans thought Henry, Clichy or Fabregas were leaving for money) comments like this is stupid.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Pretty much, we've been doing the same for years......the same thing happens every season with the club, on and off the pitch.

Noone can tell me Podolski and Giroud were signed to convince RVP to stay, why would we sign 2 strikers if we have RVP...there's other areas of the team that needed investment, one striker to share the load with RVP would have been adequate.

We knew exactly what was going to happen, PHW even came out to the press that we weren't going to break the bank, that was hardly a positive sign, saying it during negotiations is one thing but telling the press...come on.

Citing money is a copout and another way of rendering the club blameless for it's own failings.

with the strikers comment, that is just stupid. you cnat win with just two strikers so thats just crap wumming.

and the phw comment is fair, why should we pay stupid money for a player? he just said he wont offer crazy money but will offer decent money.

[Munchies]

With Van Persie I had a slight feeling he'd stay, his parents seemed pretty vocal in him staying, his hot wife also, but I guess it all came down to him, and that he want's to win something in his career. I mean if you look at his honours list, he won the Uefa Cup with Feyenoord when he was pretty young, and with us he only won the fa cup (and a shitty shield) in 8 years. Who can blame him ? We will not win a major trophy in the next 5 years at the rate we're at, and he'll be past it by then.

[Power n Glory]

If you want to pick out and debate/argue against a post, feel free to do so. Making generic (not to mention untrue - no significant portion of fans thought Henry, Clichy or Fabregas were leaving for money) comments like this is stupid.

He has a point because there always seems to be a smear campaign against players who were once considered to be loyal and true to the club. We all knew this was one the cards but as soon as it happens a players character is called into question.

[Syn]

Well we thought Clichy left for money but ure probably right about the other two.

Personally I felt the club wanted a change at LB so we sold him the same reason we sold Toure. Obviously the club were getting good money too. But with Clichy I think the club were just as happy to take £12m for him and try something different.

[Özim]

with the strikers comment, that is just stupid. you cnat win with just two strikers so thats just crap wumming.

and the phw comment is fair, why should we pay stupid money for a player? he just said he wont offer crazy money but will offer decent money.
We've got other strikers, what we needed is one to score goals alongside RVP, Podolski would have done. We knew he was going so we lined up replacements.

You say we can't win anything with two strikers and yet you've been telling us how we can win something all season with one, sort it out.

As for PHW, well no you don't come out to the press with comments like that because it immediately tells people that we're not that bothered if he doesn't sign, there was no need to say anything to the press, it had nothing to do with anyone but the negotiating team and RVP and his agent.

[Power n Glory]

with the strikers comment, that is just stupid. you cnat win with just two strikers so thats just crap wumming.

and the phw comment is fair, why should we pay stupid money for a player? he just said he wont offer crazy money but will offer decent money.

No, Giroud was signed after RVP told the club that he wasn't staying. He's a replacement not an addition. The same goes for Poldoski because we're going to lose Arshavin and possibly Theo. That's not strengthening the squad.

[leaf]

at least he has replced RVP before he flogs him unlike the fabregas saga,if he is going to leave get rid early and get a couple of decent midfielders in

[Özim]

I guess we no longer have the problem of accommodating three left footed forwards in the team. Don't ever think that was an issue.

[selassie]

What's done is done. RVP never had any intention of signing the contract that much was clear, why should he? He's probably just as tired as us fans. Lack of investment in the team....same old tired excuses blah blah blah.

We can no longer make any excuses up about losing players past their prime, we're now quite regularly losing players in their prime and we will continue to do so until we become competitive.

Call me a cynic, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if Song & Walcott follow RVP out of the club.

[Syn]

He has a point because there always seems to be a smear campaign against players who were once considered to be loyal and true to the club. We all knew this was one the cards but as soon as it happens a players character is called into question.

It's not a unique trait of just Arsenal fans to hope and believe our current players care about the club and will spend many years here. Certainly in this case, I would question Van Persie's character for reasons other than simply wanting to leave, as I've explained. Do I think Van Persie's leaving for money? Yes, partly. I do think if we were able to offer Man City's wages he would stay. I view it as a trade-off...Van Persie might value money and he also probably wants a taste of some silverware. If he does have a connection with Arsenal (and I think he does having stayed here such a long time), ticking 2 out of the 3 boxes might've done it for him. Decisions like these are not clear cut and why fans need to be so definite about things, I don't know. Saying "Nasri, Clichy, Adebayor, Henry etc." managed to win silverware so they were leaving for trophies is stupid logic. By the same logic, you could claim they were leaving for more money because they were also on better contracts. We all have our views but you can't disprove one or the other.

[Marc Overmars]

I don't believe he's leaving for money. Sure, he'll probably get paid more wherever he ends up, but by definition the richest clubs these days also happen to be the ones who win trophies.

It's not implausible to think he's exhausted with the club and just wants to move for a fresh start, I know many of us are frustrated as fans as well so it's reasonable to expect players to feel the same at times, they're not robots.

[Ollie the Optimist]

if it is true that a deal has been agreed with city by rvp over contract etc then surely we can get them for tapping up right?

[selassie]

if it is true that a deal has been agreed with city by rvp over contract etc then surely we can get them for tapping up right?

Tapping up is part and parcel of Football, some clubs do it privately others don't. There's not a lot we can do about it. He's going to City, we'll probably try and drag out the sale...but I think the fact that we signed Podolski & Giroud pretty much confirms the club have known for some time RVP is going.

I don't like the fact that we sell to City, it makes us look small time but I'm pretty sure he's off there.

[fakeyank]

if it is true that a deal has been agreed with city by rvp over contract etc then surely we can get them for tapping up right?

Whats the point? Fine City 10K? Sheikh Mansoor will take that money out of the cracks of his couch!

[Marc Overmars]

if it is true that a deal has been agreed with city by rvp over contract etc then surely we can get them for tapping up right?

Not if the club gave him permission to speak with others after the meeting they had before the Euros, which I reckon they did.

[Power n Glory]

It's not a unique trait of just Arsenal fans to hope and believe our current players care about the club and will spend many years here. Certainly in this case, I would question Van Persie's character for reasons other than simply wanting to leave, as I've explained. Do I think Van Persie's leaving for money? Yes, partly. I do think if we were able to offer Man City's wages he would stay. I view it as a trade-off...Van Persie might value money and he also probably wants a taste of some silverware. If he does have a connection with Arsenal (and I think he does having stayed here such a long time), ticking 2 out of the 3 boxes might've done it for him. Decisions like these are not clear cut and why fans need to be so definite about things, I don't know. Saying "Nasri, Clichy, Adebayor, Henry etc." managed to win silverware so they were leaving for trophies is stupid logic. By the same logic, you could claim they were leaving for more money because they were also on better contracts. We all have our views but you can't disprove one or the other.

Why in the world would you choose to end your career here when we have that 30 plus contract rule? We don't look after our older players and will quickly move them on when it's convenient for us. We have policies in place that make it difficult for us to keep players.

And let's not beat around the bush and act as if we don't know why players are leaving. This isn't a mystery. Lack of ambition has been cited by players on very good contracts to players on lows wages. There is a problem with the way this clubs run.

[GP]

It's not about the money this time...we just can't match his ambition in the transfer market and if you read the last part of the full statement...Van Persie hints as to one of the reasons why...

"As soon as Mr Gazidis is back from his two-week holiday in America further meetings will follow and I will update you if and when there are more developments."

Anyone else know why our CEO is taking a 2-week break in the middle of the transfer window...a window that is probably one of the most important in our recent history? Anyone?

He isn't on holiday. The statement is full of shit and so is he.

[leaf]

dont think he's leaving for money either just wants a crack at winning something,hopefully he will go to juve not city but still worth chucking a bid in for de jong

[Syn]

I don't believe he's leaving for money. Sure, he'll probably get paid more wherever he ends up, but by definition the richest clubs these days also happen to be the ones who win trophies.

It's not implausible to think he's exhausted with the club and just wants to move for a fresh start, I know many of us are frustrated as fans as well so it's reasonable to expect players to feel the same at times, they're not robots.

Many of us have spent most of this season arguing what Man City is doing is not really 'earning' trophies and if you spend so much it's quite inevitable you'll eventually win. But while we're speculating, what would you make of Van Persie's reasons for wanting to leave if he joins Man City? You'd have to think a player of Van Persie's ability could get a move to other clubs in with a chance of trophies (e.g. Juventus are interested).

[Özim]

We're becoming Man City's feeder club.

Don't really mind where he goes to be honest, we're not winning anything soon. Question is do we care about the money, it's not like we're going to see it being spent on the team?

Italy isn't an attractive place to go to these days, it's not quite the 2nd rate league Wenger thinks it is, but the clubs there aren't really overly competitive in Europe, Mourinho produced miracle with Inter but aside from there's not been much in recent years, top players no longer end up in Italy.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Not if the club gave him permission to speak with others after the meeting they had before the Euros, which I reckon they did.

some reports are claiming that deal done in march time etc, there is no way we would have given permission then if we have at all. surely something needs to be done, if it is tapping up, a fine and suspended ban and found to do it agian, they would be punished. we have to accuse them if they did it, just to try and get some good back into football

[Marc Overmars]

Many of us have spent most of this season arguing what Man City is doing is not really 'earning' trophies and if you spend so much it's quite inevitable you'll eventually win. But while we're speculating, what would you make of Van Persie's reasons for wanting to leave if he joins Man City? You'd have to think a player of Van Persie's ability could get a move to other clubs in with a chance of trophies (e.g. Juventus are interested).

In the case of City I'd say money would probably be the clincher, it always is. However it may also be suitable for him to keep his family in England where they might be settled. In addition, he may want to stick to what he knows best, the Premier League, rather than play in Italy and adapt to a new culture and league, something he may be too far gone in his life and career to do.

We all know as much as each other on this. :shrug:

I reckon he's just fed up here, fancies a few +1 medals so he has something to look back on in 10 years, and also earn himself a nice packet for what will surely be the last big contract of his career.

C'est la vie. :wave:

[Syn]

Why in the world would you choose to end your career here when we have that 30 plus contract rule? We don't look after our older players and will quickly move them on when it's convenient for us. We have policies in place that make it difficult for us to keep players.

The idea is that we offer a big contract now (at 29) which would last him to 33. By 33 he might not be worth the same money. But right now, we would have to offer a big contract. If we are not, maybe the problem is on our side - as Wenger has hinted, he feels a players peak ends before around 31/2 so it's possible we could be offering below what we could. So if Van Persie is leaving for money, it might not be just his fault - maybe Arsenal aren't offering enough. I have never ruled it out. When I say Van Persie could be leaving for money, some of you automatically think I'm putting the blame directly on Van Persie. As I've made clear from the start, I can't be bothered to waste energy being annoyed or blaming either party. We're just discussing possible reasons. Money's just as good as any other.


And let's not beat around the bush and act as if we don't know why players are leaving. This isn't a mystery. Lack of ambition has been cited by players on very good contracts to players on lows wages. There is a problem with the way this clubs run.

It hasn't been cited by players on very good contracts relative to what they'd potentially earn on their next move. As I said, I'm not interested in any bullshit definite statements. It's never just 'money' or 'trophies' or 'city' or any of the 100 different variables that'd affect such a choice. How important each choice is would vary from player to player.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Those are two replacement signings. Not signings to make us stronger. That's pretty obvious now. Giroud was signed during the Euros after RVP had the talks and told Wenger and Gaz that he won't sign. That's when we sign a striker.

i read an article where wenger commented about podolski's transfer and said something along the lines of 'podolski is interesting because he can play on the right wing naturally. in that sense he is very versatile and offers much more than any other winger'.

instantly alarm bells started ringing and i think theo is off too tbh. wenger seems to have replaced rvp and theo with giroud and podolski; after all, as others have already mentioned, when was the last time wenger splashed out on players so early in the transfer window? they must be replacements.


Hes right. Our medical staff are shit. Just look at the ridiculous amount of long-term injuries we have had. And he's right about our transfer policy which even the most loyal fans will admit is in tatters now. I just dont think he has done anything wrong. He is entitled to leave and felt it best to come out with a statement. Money is obviously a consideration but he wants to win things.

medical team hasn't been the same since gary lewin left. its gone completely downhill since then and its getting worse.


With Van Persie I had a slight feeling he'd stay, his parents seemed pretty vocal in him staying, his hot wife also, but I guess it all came down to him, and that he want's to win something in his career. I mean if you look at his honours list, he won the Uefa Cup with Feyenoord when he was pretty young, and with us he only won the fa cup (and a shitty shield) in 8 years. Who can blame him ? We will not win a major trophy in the next 5 years at the rate we're at, and he'll be past it by then.

i agree completely. i felt differently with rvp too mainly because he was the only piece of magic in our team this season. in a year filled with fractious lows, we had a ray of light and a monster of a player called robin van persie. i honestly thought he would show some sort of loyalty, mainly because we stuck our neck out for years to help him through his injuries and ordeal. i know the fans have adored many players that have put on an arsenal shirt - the recent one being cesc - but rvp was different; this season when we got off to our worst start in 58 years, he was our light and shining armour. the level of proximity he had with the fans, alongside the emotional ties he had clearly built up, is something i have personally not seen at the emirates for years. he was the one thing that made us proud to support arsenal football club this season through all those hard times we encountered. we'd go into games doubting our own ability to win but we knew with captain vantastic up front, we had half a chance. we'd sing his name out loud with pride and even when others were laughing at our poor form, rvp brought us together with some sublime goals. it was his club; when the crowd sung his name when he had the altercation with krul during the newcastle game, everyone could see the relationship was something special. im fucking gutted it's turned out like this but at the same time, serious questions need to be asked. why would a player throw all of that away? there are deep problems ingrained into our club that is antiquated at its core.

rvp himself said on numerous occasions that he was very happy with life in the capital; his kids were settled in school and his wife made no secret of the fact that she loved living in london. it seemed like they had no reason to move away. equally, that says a lot about our club; a player who was so settled in every aspect of his life is willing to take a risk and unsettle his whole family just to win trophies. is that how far we have fallen, whereby a player with so much admiration for us, has to move away and find another club to fill up his trophy cabinet? we used to be a club players wanted to come to as they'd envisage winning trophies here. now they all move away. it shows the sad state of our affairs and how far we have fallen.

[Power n Glory]

The idea is that we offer a big contract now (at 29) which would last him to 33. By 33 he might not be worth the same money. But right now, we would have to offer a big contract. If we are not, maybe the problem is on our side - as Wenger has hinted, he feels a players peak ends before around 31/2 so it's possible we could be offering below what we could. So if Van Persie is leaving for money, it might not be just his fault - maybe Arsenal aren't offering enough. I have never ruled it out. When I say Van Persie could be leaving for money, some of you automatically think I'm putting the blame directly on Van Persie. As I've made clear from the start, I can't be bothered to waste energy being annoyed or blaming either party. We're just discussing possible reasons. Money's just as good as any other.



It hasn't been cited by players on very good contracts relative to what they'd potentially earn on their next move. As I said, I'm not interested in any bullshit definite statements. It's never just 'money' or 'trophies' or 'city' or any of the 100 different variables that'd affect such a choice. How important each choice is would vary from player to player.

You can't believe for a second that the past few years have all been a result of random variables? If a company has a high turn over rate, there is a fundamental problem with that company. Our last 4 captains have said that this club lacks ambition and have been frustrated with the transfer policies and our lack of silverware. All of hinted at it. I think the players are just as frustrated as the fans with the club.

[Power n Glory]

i read an article where wenger commented about podolski's transfer and said something along the lines of 'podolski is interesting because he can play on the right wing naturally. in that sense he is very versatile and offers much more than any other winger'.

instantly alarm bells started ringing and i think theo is off too tbh. wenger seems to have replaced rvp and theo with giroud and podolski; after all, as others have already mentioned, when was the last time wenger splashed out on players so early in the transfer window? they must be replacements.

The fact that Wenger thinks Poldoski can play on the wing is a bit of a worry to me. Doesn't seem like a natural dribbler that's going to cause trouble on the flanks.

[-Xs-]

Yeah, but Wenger's obsessed with playing every striker "on the wings"

You have to wonder why he doesn't just try to find another genuine winger....

[Syn]

You can't believe for a second that the past few years have all been a result of random variables? If a company has a high turn over rate, there is a fundamental problem with that company. Our last 4 captains have said that this club lacks ambition and have been frustrated with the transfer policies and our lack of silverware. All of hinted at it. I think the players are just as frustrated as the fans with the club.

I don't know what you mean by 'random' but I don't believe it is just chance, no. As I've said, I think there are many factors that go into it. But I think we may be limited in terms of the money we offer relative to some other clubs (certainly Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man City - to name the main clubs we've lost our star players to in recent years), and so it would be foolish to rule out that money is an issue. Other factors would also come in to it.

I think there are probably many problems with the way this club is run. The priorities between fans/players and the club don't seem to be fully aligned. There are major injury problems that we can't seem to sort out efficiently. There are many reasons why players would want to leave. Money is one and, I would argue, an important one.

[Cripps_orig]

Has he gone yet?

[GunnerFan4Life]

Absolutely fuming. I have never been this fucked off.

[Cripps_orig]

Absolutely fuming. I have never been this fucked off.

Wait til youre with a girl or a guy if thats your thing

[Cripps_orig]

The fact that Wenger thinks Poldoski can play on the wing is a bit of a worry to me. Doesn't seem like a natural dribbler that's going to cause trouble on the flanks.

Hes done it 90 odd times for Germany and hes been brilliant there.

Hes a genuine player who can excel in 2 positions.

Bad thing is we need him for both those positions and theres only one of him.

Giroud is average at best

We need a striker asap

[Power n Glory]

I don't know what you mean by 'random' but I don't believe it is just chance, no. As I've said, I think there are many factors that go into it. But I think we may be limited in terms of the money we offer relative to some other clubs (certainly Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man City - to name the main clubs we've lost our star players to in recent years), and so it would be foolish to rule out that money is an issue. Other factors would also come in to it.

I think there are probably many problems with the way this club is run. The priorities between fans/players and the club don't seem to be fully aligned. There are major injury problems that we can't seem to sort out efficiently. There are many reasons why players would want to leave. Money is one and, I would argue, an important one.

Money's an issue but some players turn down bigger clubs or clubs offering more money to play at Arsenal. Wasn't that the case with Nasri and Hleb? I can't remember, but I've heard new signings come out and say they've picked us as a club over certain other clubs but they like the way we play. Didn't Gallas take a pay cut like Arteta?

Then we have long serving players like Henry and Cesc that could have moved on years ago but stayed even though they were on the radars of many top clubs. We're a club known for not paying massive fees but players still want to come and play for us. Moeny's an issue but the lack of ambition is the real killer. Henry and Cesc were on good money here and I think Cesc has taken a pay cut to play for Barca.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I don't think it matters where he goes. Us not selling to Man City is not going to have any impact whatsoever on their ability to win the league or our inability to do so.

I'm also past the point of caring how much we get for him. We aren't going to benefit at all because the money from transfers is rarely re-invested in the team. I'm pretty fed up with how the Club is run. It simply has not adapted to the new environment in which we operate. Sure, we can't buy the best players, but we can buy very good players, but we simply don't attempt to make maximum use of the resources we have available to us.

Finally, as regards Van Persie, he is currently with a Club that isn't making maximum use of its resources, has historically discriminated against players of his age - regardless of ability and is unlikely to win anything during the likely term of any contract he signs. Bearing that in mind, who'd blame him for leaving? But on the flip side, most other Clubs would have sent him to the glue factory years ago, but we stood by him, both club and fans and after 8 years, he finally has a good season and now the Club does not meet his ambitions! Was the Club meeting his ambitions when they were paying him shedloads to sit on a fricken treatment table?!?!

I'm disillusioned by it all and just want this sorted quickly but am resigned to the negativity dragging on for weeks and weeks, just as it does every season.

[-Xs-]

Just sell him to Juve for 8 mill and have done with it.

[Cripps_orig]

GB makes a good point.

RVP has stated his intentions to fuck off so get him fucked off asap. We dont want none of this "hes staying til next summer" BS only for us to sell him after the season has started and we've conceded 8 to whoever we play away at. That will be unforgivable.

I dont care where he goes. Abroad or City or even Man utd if the gossip column is to be believed, he'll always be a **** to me

[Power n Glory]

I actually think we're stupid enough to keep him for another season. Wenger didn't get his way with Nasri but I think he'll get his way here. Listen to the noise coming out of the club and I think they're prepared to keep him regardless. the disruption this will cause...

[Cripps_orig]

If hes here next season, does he stay as captain?

A captain whos not committed?

Sounds about right for us.

We're in turmoil

[-Xs-]

I don't think they will - they really are clueless if they do. He has basically made his position untenable, arguably quite purposefully to engineer a move, by refusing to sign. The fans wont respond well to him, and it could cause disharmony in the dressing room

[Syn]

I actually think we're stupid enough to keep him for another season. Wenger didn't get his way with Nasri but I think he'll get his way here. Listen to the noise coming out of the club and I think they're prepared to keep him regardless. the disruption this will cause...

I'm mixed on this. I don't think we have much to gain from getting rid of him either. What's he going to do - sulk for a year? It's in his best interests to play very well for a mega contract. This is why I feel it's a little bit dick move by Van Persie to pretty much make it clear that there are differences between himself and Wenger/Gazidis - because nobody expects him to stay now.

The club's response seems like the usual bollocks - they surely can't expect him to fulfil his contract. I'd go as far as to say I'd actually be impressed if the club played hardball and held on to him.

If Van Persie is forced to play out his contract, I think the positive of having him on the pitch will outweigh the annoyance (and it is just that) of having the media say "what will Arsenal do next season when vP leaves) - we're numb to that by now. When he scores a few goals, fans will soon get behind him and just accept the situation for what it is.

[Power n Glory]

I'm mixed on this. I don't think we have much to gain from getting rid of him either. What's he going to do - sulk for a year? It's in his best interests to play very well for a mega contract. This is why I feel it's a little bit dick move by Van Persie to pretty much make it clear that there are differences between himself and Wenger/Gazidis - because nobody expects him to stay now.

The club's response seems like the usual bollocks - they surely can't expect him to fulfil his contract. I'd go as far as to say I'd actually be impressed if the club played hardball and held on to him.

If Van Persie is forced to play out his contract, I think the positive of having him on the pitch will outweigh the annoyance (and it is just that) of having the media say "what will Arsenal do next season when vP leaves) - we're numb to that by now. When he scores a few goals, fans will soon get behind him and just accept the situation for what it is.

If we intend to keep him for a year, at least everyone knows where we stand. We won't have constant speculation from the press and we can get on with the season. But I don't think it's wise. Fans will boo and he might not get over the abuse that easily. That will affect the players around him plus I'm not I'd it's wise having him around the team if he's off next season. What sort of advice can he give to other players? Ever been around a bitter co worker that hates the his job and company and you're the new guy on the job? It's not motivating.

Theo is probably out the door next, followed by Song. That's the last of the old school regulars.

[fakeyank]

If we intend to keep him for a year, at least everyone knows where we stand. We won't have constant speculation from the press and we can get on with the season. But I don't think it's wise. Fans will boo and he might not get over the abuse that easily. That will affect the players around him plus I'm not I'd it's wise having him around the team if he's off next season. What sort of advice can he give to other players? Ever been around a bitter co worker that hates the his job and company and you're the new guy on the job? It's not motivating.

Theo is probably out the door next, followed by Song. That's the last of the old school regulars.

Make the fucker play with the reserves. Let's see a big club coming for him next season. We gotta do like a boss!

[Ralpheroo72]

Sack the board! We make the Greek government look like a well oiled machine. There was never this level of contract fuck up's when David Dein was around, now we have a bunch of moron's in charge, we are a shambles.

[Thierrymon]

Expected better from RVP. My faith in humanity has taken a dip.

There is no such thing as loyalty in football these days.

Except Wenger. Wenger :bow:

[Munchies]

Press saying it could be betweeen United and City. Although how United can compete with City in terms of the wage structure is the question. Does he genuinely want to win trophies, or does he also want to pocket shedloads of monies and pull a Hazard going to who offers the most.

[Ernesto]

Make the fucker play with the reserves. Let's see a big club coming for him next season. We gotta do like a boss!

This sounds really cruel on my part, but I think he's only one hamstring injury away from total loss of form anyway (an injury a normally healthy footballer can easily contend with)

[Grebbo]

I'm mixed on this. I don't think we have much to gain from getting rid of him either. What's he going to do - sulk for a year? It's in his best interests to play very well for a mega contract. This is why I feel it's a little bit dick move by Van Persie to pretty much make it clear that there are differences between himself and Wenger/Gazidis - because nobody expects him to stay now.

The club's response seems like the usual bollocks - they surely can't expect him to fulfil his contract. I'd go as far as to say I'd actually be impressed if the club played hardball and held on to him.

If Van Persie is forced to play out his contract, I think the positive of having him on the pitch will outweigh the annoyance (and it is just that) of having the media say "what will Arsenal do next season when vP leaves) - we're numb to that by now. When he scores a few goals, fans will soon get behind him and just accept the situation for what it is.

I presume RVP has gone public to ensure that he gets his move. He'll have told Arse ages ago he wasn't going to sign and I presume they told him he'll see out his contract.

If the most we're going to get for him is £10m then I say keep him and let him go on a free. If we get offered £20m then we have to take it.

I think RVP's comments show what a wanker he is, very similar to Rooney's comments a couple of years ago when he wanted to move to City.

[Ernesto]

I think RVP's comments show what a wanker he is, very similar to Rooney's comments a couple of years ago when he wanted to move to City.

While I wish for an about-turn, a la Rooney, I just can't see it happening in van Persie's case. I can't see him renewing his cntract for at least a year during this summer, or while playing next season he suddenly thinks "hey, things aren't so bad here after all, I think I'll stick around."

It just seems to be a question of how we're run, as a club. Modric was unsettled at Spurs last summer, if we're to believe certain sources, yet they held on to him. Even with a managerial change, he looks intent on staying there and there is very limited speculation. That's WITH a manager change. Oh, it riles me! :angry:

[PGFC]

I've changed my mind, I'd want to give the bag back.

[Grebbo]

It just seems to be a question of how we're run, as a club. Modric was unsettled at Spurs last summer, if we're to believe certain sources, yet they held on to him. Even with a managerial change, he looks intent on staying there and there is very limited speculation. That's WITH a manager change. Oh, it riles me! :angry:

Modric signed a 5 year contract the season before IIRC - that's the difference. He'll definitely go this summer.

RVP wont go on strike, he'll sulk like a bitch but ultimately he'll see out his contract with us if that's what we want.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Some people think we can get a lot of money for him. I think that is unlikely for reasons stated earlier. Even if we did get a lot of money, what does it matter to us as fans?

Bearing that in mind, does anyone here feel comfortable with him and the club agreeing that he sees out his contract?

[Marc Overmars]

Personally I hope he goes because I think him staying for another year would bring on far too much scrutiny. We did it with Flamini but he was a no mark.

I don't expect RVP to just sit around and sulk however what if his form were to drop? The fans and media would be all over him like a rash. The fact he's captain as well, it wouldn't send out the right message in my books.

Just flog him and move on, he's made his decision.

[Power n Glory]

We have our replacement striker already. We paid £12m for him and that's probably what we'll recoup from the sale of RVP. We will probably lose Walcott next. Ox takes over from Walcott. We're not going to sign a star player this summer. We've already signed Poldoski and Giroud.

[Letters]

Make the fucker play with the reserves. Let's see a big club coming for him next season. We gotta do like a boss!
You are very silly.

This is exactly the sort of doing things on principle thing you so lambast Wenger for. I say we keep him and get another year out of him. We're not going to get loads for him anyway, he'll probably help us qualify for the CL again which would earn us more than we'd get and the fans would soon come round once he scored a couple, we're stupid like that.

[Ernesto]

Bearing that in mind, does anyone here feel comfortable with him and the club agreeing that he sees out his contract?

Probably....it's a very old-fashioned way of looking at it, but a lot of players used to do that, didn't they? Just see out their contracts. I think it was ever since Sol Campbell whittled down his contract at Spurs and decided to join us that fans suddenly thought, "hang on, these guys are no better than mercenaries!"

A change of heart seems near improbable now. However, given his history with injuries, I think even one extra year with van Persie helps the club's cause more than it does his.

[Letters]

Bearing that in mind, does anyone here feel comfortable with him and the club agreeing that he sees out his contract?
Yes. I don't think he's the type to sulk around the place (I may be wrong about that)
And the fans are fickle enough to cheer him when he starts scoring, which he would.
Strip him of the captaincy, obviously, but unless we get a silly offer for him, and we won't, then I say keep him.

[Grebbo]

Personally I hope he goes because I think him staying for another year would bring on far too much scrutiny. We did it with Flamini but he was a no mark.

I don't expect RVP to just sit around and sulk however what if his form were to drop? The fans and media would be all over him like a rash. The fact he's captain as well, it wouldn't send out the right message in my books.



The same is true if he signed a 4 yr deal with us on £200k per week and lost his form/got injured.

If we can't get decent money for him we must not sell him.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

He isn't on holiday. The statement is full of shit and so is he.
I think gazidis has been on his holidays since he started at our club. The guy is so far out of his depth. If man city are tapping up our players and getting them to refuse to sign contracts then maybe we should get some evidence and do something about it instead of sitting back. I think arsenal fc need to make an example of rvp and keep him against his will. Sod 20million. If man city want him they either give us 40million or throw in hart, Richards and Johnson.

[jelgoon]

I dont just blame Gazidis although he is clearly useless. This is a board thing and he just happens to be the Chief Executive. The owner has decided we dont compete in the transfer market. We have always been crap at keeping our best players and I think Wenger's arrogance has a lot to do with it. We let Ashely Cole go cos Wenger told the board that Clichy would be as good. And look what happened - Cole went on to be the best left back in the world whilst Clichy is ordinary.
I think gazidis has been on his holidays since he started at our club. The guy is so far out of his depth. If man city are tapping up our players and getting them to refuse to sign contracts then maybe we should get some evidence and do something about it instead of sitting back. I think arsenal fc need to make an example of rvp and keep him against his will. Sod 20million. If man city want him they either give us 40million or throw in hart, Richards and Johnson.

[Arsenal Fan]

sell the fuck, sell the fuck now.... we got 20£m for Nasri, I'd be happy with the same.

nob, first cesc, now this...fuck this shit

[Flavs]

He's also a pedo rapist.

This

[LDG]

Lol.

Same old, same old.

Flog the ****.

On we go.

[Keith]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1321394/Wayne-Rooney-I-quit-Manchester-United-star-wants-out.html

[server too busy!]

Make him stay the year, this gives Giroud and Podolski time to bed in to the league. If necessary, sell him in 6 months time when the others have settled in. What a prick RvP is, hero to zero in seconds. How can he disagree with being in the CL again and us signing 2 international strikers. What more does he expect?? There's no way we can spend £100m nor should we.

I'll be surprised if Walcott goes as well, what team in the top 4 is going to play him as often as we do. Fuck it we have Gervinho and the Ox. I hate footballers, bunch of selfish pricks. I can see someone like Diaby having a stormer of a season and then pissing off too.

I suspect RvP and Theo were 2 that wanted to leave last season, but Wenger asked them to stay just one more in the hope they would change their minds. We should never let players go down to their last year. Even if they want to leave, make them sign but give them an assurance they can go, at least then we can get a decent price. 6 year contracts all round (apart from the dross).

[server too busy!]

Also lets be honest, what are the chances RvP will play another full season. He's 29, so its hardly like his best years are ahead of him. Good luck sitting on the bench at another club. You'll never be idolised like you were at Arsenal, what a fuck up.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

sell the fuck, sell the fuck now.... we got 20£m for Nasri, I'd be happy with the same.

nob, first cesc, now this...fuck this shit
There is no point in selling for 20million, just goes into kroenkers pocket. From now in we should just trade players. If Man city want rvp, then realistically Johnson and Richards would equate to the same value. Or lescott and Johnson. Both would be more useful to us. In fact why don't we trade Walcott and rvp. Johnson, Richards, lescott and guidetti that Swedish kid that wants out. Then we buy mvila with the sale of all our dead wood combined. Sorted. If wenger isn't getting the cash then trading players is the answer aurely.

[Power n Glory]

RVP would be foolish to join City. They have too many strikers. But we need City in the picture to bump up the transfer fee. There is no point in keeping him for an extra year. It's not about the money, it's the damage he'd do while at the club. I don't think he'd sulk or deliberately cause a mutiny but having him around, scoring goals, talking to the players....even if he does well and scores another ton, we all know he's off next season and his presence will always be a reminder of our failings as a club. If we're dependent on him again next season and it turns out that Poldoski and Giroud are shit..I think it would turn more players against the club.

[Xhaka Can’t]

There is no point in selling for 20million, just goes into kroenkers pocket. From now in we should just trade players. If Man city want rvp, then realistically Johnson and Richards would equate to the same value. Or lescott and Johnson. Both would be more useful to us. In fact why don't we trade Walcott and rvp. Johnson, Richards, lescott and guidetti that Swedish kid that wants out. Then we buy mvila with the sale of all our dead wood combined. Sorted. If wenger isn't getting the cash then trading players is the answer aurely.

If we aren't going to spend money on players, at least we could be more imaginative in player trading carrying out activity similar to this.

[Arsenal Fan]

i really dont want to see the fuck playing for us next year, let alone captaining the side.

[Xhaka Can’t]

RVP would be foolish to join City. They have too many strikers. But we need City in the picture to bump up the transfer fee. There is no point in keeping him for an extra year. It's not about the money, it's the damage he'd do while at the club. I don't think he'd sulk or deliberately cause a mutiny but having him around, scoring goals, talking to the players....even if he does well and scores another ton, we all know he's off next season and his presence will always be a reminder of our failings as a club. If we're dependent on him again next season and it turns out that Poldoski and Giroud are shit..I think it would turn more players against the club.

There are those risks involved in having him see out his contract. But given that he is en route to 30, after next season, how much more would we be likely to get out of him if he did sign? I wouldn't be averse to having him stay another year. But only if there was something clear from him stating the he intended to honour his contract.

That said I doubt we'll get that, in which case, we need him out the door asap so we can for better or worse concentrate on getting the team that is going to start next season prepared in order to avoid the disruption and subsequent disastrous start of last year.

[BOBN]

There is no point in selling for 20million, just goes into kroenkers pocket. From now in we should just trade players. If Man city want rvp, then realistically Johnson and Richards would equate to the same value. Or lescott and Johnson. Both would be more useful to us. In fact why don't we trade Walcott and rvp. Johnson, Richards, lescott and guidetti that Swedish kid that wants out. Then we buy mvila with the sale of all our dead wood combined. Sorted. If wenger isn't getting the cash then trading players is the answer aurely.
how on earth does johnson and richards equate to RVP? thats two 5 million pound players.

i'd have balotelli and zabaleta/de jong, job done.

[LDG]

There are those risks involved in having him see out his contract. But given that he is en route to 30, after next season, how much more would we be likely to get out of him if he did sign? I wouldn't be averse to having him stay another year. But only if there was something clear from him stating the he intended to honour his contract.

That said I doubt we'll get that, in which case, we need him out the door asap so we can for better or worse concentrate on getting the team that is going to start next season prepared in order to avoid the disruption and subsequent disastrous start of last year.

Ship him out. 10mil is fine. Just get him out the door, and Theo too.

[Arsenal Fan]

nice idea, but i just cant see wenger doing this

[Arsenal Fan]

if we dont sell the fuck, what kind of reception will he get at the emirates every other week?

[Power n Glory]

how on earth does johnson and richards equate to RVP? thats two 5 million pound players.

i'd have balotelli and zabaleta/de jong, job done.

Have you lost your mind? Balotelli helped Italy get to the final of the Euros and he's still 21/22. RVP has a year left on his contract, has a terrible injury record, he's 29 and had a terrible Euro campaign. We'd be lucky to get £15m for him. That's how much we sold Henry for around the same age and he was way better than RVP.

Batoltelli is worth £20m -£30m. It's never going to happen.

[LDG]

if we dont sell the fuck, what kind of reception will he get at the emirates every other week?

Generally the crowd aren't dribbling retards like those at Stoke, so I imagine they'll just golf clap him, and nip off to queue for half time.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

how on earth does johnson and richards equate to RVP? thats two 5 million pound players.

i'd have balotelli and zabaleta/de jong, job done.

How is richards a 5million pound player or johnson for that matter, the two of them would walk into our team. Anyways - that's not the point, the point was that player trading is far more useful to us than money that won't be guaranteed to be reinvested into the squad.

Plus Zabaleta/De Jong? Really? Out of all of Man City's players you'd pick one of those two?

[Power n Glory]

Generally the crowd aren't dribbling retards like those at Stoke, so I imagine they'll just golf clap him, and nip off to queue for half time.

I doubt that. So many fans sound really pissed off with him. Wouldn't be surprised if he got abuse. Pretty foolish since we all knew this would be the outcome last summer when we sold Cesc and Nasri. Theo is next to go.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I think he is professional enough to deliver for us. But honestly, I don't see him playing for us next season. If you read the Club statement it in no way implies that they are trying to keep RvP for the remainder of his contract. It focuses on 'planning....for next season with Arsenal's best interests in mind'.

The Club's best interest has got to be to resolve the situation one way or another over the next few days.

[BOBN]

Have you lost your mind? Balotelli helped Italy get to the final of the Euros and he's still 21/22. RVP has a year left on his contract, has a terrible injury record, he's 29 and had a terrible Euro campaign. We'd be lucky to get £15m for him. That's how much we sold Henry for around the same age and he was way better than RVP.

Batoltelli is worth £20m -£30m. It's never going to happen.
balotelli is worth 17-20mill. still very inconsistent and prob not a city starter.


How is richards a 5million pound player or johnson for that matter, the two of them would walk into our team. Anyways - that's not the point, the point was that player trading is far more useful to us than money that won't be guaranteed to be reinvested into the squad.

Plus Zabaleta/De Jong? Really? Out of all of Man City's players you'd pick one of those two?
so lets see, the guy who keeps richards out of the city team who is adept at left and right back and a fully-fledged international starting defensive midflielder for a premier nation.... or two clowns who cant even get into one of the shittest international squads in europe.

[Letters]

if we dont sell the fuck, what kind of reception will he get at the emirates every other week?
A few boos initially then he'll score a goal and everyone will be cheering :shrug:

PnG's point about the damage it could cause to have him here for the season is a good one though.

[GP]

How is richards a 5million pound player or johnson for that matter, the two of them would walk into our team. Anyways - that's not the point, the point was that player trading is far more useful to us than money that won't be guaranteed to be reinvested into the squad.

Plus Zabaleta/De Jong? Really? Out of all of Man City's players you'd pick one of those two?

Richards and Johnson are pretty shit to be fair. Your judgement seems to be way off.
We're you also screaming of us to sign Onhoua (or however the fuck you spell it) at one point? Now he really is garbage.

[Dentonboy]

The biggest question I have is whether Giroud and Podolski are replacements for van Persie, or for Park/Bendtner/Vela/Chamakh. If RvP is replaced by a very promising talent; like Yarmolenko, Leandro Damiao, van Wolfswinkel or Destro, then there is a hope the team can challenge. If he is replaced with a proven top striker, like Huntelaar, Llorente or Jovetic, then I fully believe we'll challenge (if a DM is added...).

All the big players Arsenal have lost have been foreign born with ambitions to play for the big continental clubs (Anelka, Vieira, Henry, Fabregas). Who wouldn't want to live in Barcelona? Who wouldn't want to be PAID to live in Barcelona?! Nasri is perhaps the exception (Hleb, Flamini, Petit and Overmars were probably influenced by lifestyle and money). But we've seen what type of man he is (I think Clichy was allowed to go as Wenger ultimately thought Gibbs would be better, and Toure/Adebayor left due to disagreements with key players). I'm not regretting that Nasri and the other ex-Arsenal players at Man City left us. Van Persie; you can see and understand his dilemma. But he shouldn't have said those things in his statement, nor to his Dutch pal before Euro 2012. And if he goes to Man City, that one would hurt.

The case studies that will determine Arsenal's standing, ambition and influence will be Walcott's contract decision, and the futures of Wilshere, Chamberlain, Gibbs and to a certain extent, Szczesny. I can see foreign players like Sagna, Vermaelen and Koscielny wanting to play in another country. But what will our British talent (Szcszesny is practically a Cockney) do?

[Power n Glory]

We don't pay over £10m for bench players with that much experience.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

There is no point in selling for 20million, just goes into kroenkers pocket. From now in we should just trade players. If Man city want rvp, then realistically Johnson and Richards would equate to the same value. Or lescott and Johnson. Both would be more useful to us. In fact why don't we trade Walcott and rvp. Johnson, Richards, lescott and guidetti that Swedish kid that wants out. Then we buy mvila with the sale of all our dead wood combined. Sorted. If wenger isn't getting the cash then trading players is the answer aurely.

Reckon thats what Stan thinks the way things are done anyway, would explain why we dont see any of his cash

[Power n Glory]

balotelli is worth 17-20mill. still very inconsistent and prob not a city starter.


so lets see, the guy who keeps richards out of the city team who is adept at left and right back and a fully-fledged international starting defensive midflielder for a premier nation.... or two clowns who cant even get into one of the shittest international squads in europe.

We're not going to get Balotelli. Get that out of your mind. Wenger would never be able control him anyway and he'd end up causing a riot in our dressing room. We can't even afford his wages, damn it. We have to be realistic.

[LDG]

He's 29 nearly 30.

A player at that age is gonna want a 3 or 4 year deal.

When has AW ever granted that to anyone that age?

He would have stayed if he had gotten his pay packet. No question.

Let's credit our management with a little more common sense than that.

If we sigined himon a 4 year deal as the top earner at the club, where does it leave us when he's on the treatment table, or unable to play consistently / loses pace etc.

Paying massive wages for a player that isn't top quality anymore is where it leaves us....and in more orless the same position as having Bendtner on your books and not being able to shift the ****.

No doubt we offered two years. He said I want four. We said on your bike, and now he's bitter about it.

:wave:

Shove it up your arse RVP.

[BOBN]

We're not going to get Balotelli. Get that out of your mind. Wenger would never be able control him anyway and he'd end up causing a riot in our dressing room. We can't even afford his wages, damn it. We have to be realistic.
who cares, point is there are many options. almost all of citys squad players would improve us.

zabaleta + de jong + 10 mill. job done.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Had the best part of the day to think about this and even though it took me by surprise I stoll dont feel gutted. It may be that Wenger got in two replacements before we the bomb dropped but I believe we will ride through this storm.
Sure we relied very heavily on RvPs goals last year but if I got any positives from last year was that we played with more togetherness than I have seen for ages. We may not see his category of goal for a while but the team aint going to die and although my initial reaction was to keep him for the last year as I imagine there will be less interest in him come this time next year, I agree with PnG that the risk of damage to the team is great and we need to move on. I think Juve showed us where the bidding starts and those thinking wr are getting 20-40are touched.

I say take 10-15 max and go and test that apparent cheap release clause in Ba's contract, could do worse, PL experience, jump at a chance to play in CL and fuck it get MVila, we obviously have the money as we were iinterested enough before the stories started flying around, we gave enough dead wood to bring in some cash as well, also with RvP and Nic on their way we are going to need at least one stroppy cu#t

Pods - Giourd - Robin sounded good for a brief moment. . .though was never going ti happen

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

the saddest part is he could have been up there with henry and bergkamp if he guided us to trophies but now he is nothing more than adebayor.

[Power n Glory]

He's 29 nearly 30.

A player at that age is gonna want a 3 or 4 year deal.

When has AW ever granted that to anyone that age?

He would have stayed if he had gotten his pay packet. No question.

Let's credit our management with a little more common sense than that.

If we sigined himon a 4 year deal as the top earner at the club, where does it leave us when he's on the treatment table, or unable to play consistently / loses pace etc.

Paying massive wages for a player that isn't top quality anymore is where it leaves us....and in more orless the same position as having Bendtner on your books and not being able to shift the ****.

No doubt we offered two years. He said I want four. We said on your bike, and now he's bitter about it.

:wave:

Shove it up your arse RVP.


They didn't talk about the contract or wages apparently. If what you said is true, Wenger will make a statement and say we offered him a fair contract or something like that.

[GP]

who cares, point is there are many options. almost all of citys squad players would improve us.

zabaleta + de jong + 10 mill. job done.

Realistically though, how often do players get traded in that way?

[Xhaka Can’t]

I don't think that is entirely fair. He is entitled to decide on whether or not he wants to sign a new contract.

However, no that the decision has been made and it unlikely his position is tenable, lets get this sorted right away with the only consideration being what is best for the Club.

That said, my faith in the people supposed to be running the Club to do that is pretty low.

[LDG]

Meh. I really don't care tbh.

[Power n Glory]

Had the best part of the day to think about this and even though it took me by surprise I stoll dont feel gutted. It may be that Wenger got in two replacements before we the bomb dropped but I believe we will ride through this storm.
Sure we relied very heavily on RvPs goals last year but if I got any positives from last year was that we played with more togetherness than I have seen for ages. We may not see his category of goal for a while but the team aint going to die and although my initial reaction was to keep him for the last year as I imagine there will be less interest in him come this time next year, I agree with PnG that the risk of damage to the team is great and we need to move on. I think Juve showed us where the bidding starts and those thinking wr are getting 20-40are touched.

I say take 10-15 max and go and test that apparent cheap release clause in Ba's contract, could do worse, PL experience, jump at a chance to play in CL and fuck it get MVila, we obviously have the money as we were iinterested enough before the stories started flying around, we gave enough dead wood to bring in some cash as well, also with RvP and Nic on their way we are going to need at least one stroppy cu#t

Pods - Giourd - Robin sounded good for a brief moment. . .though was never going ti happen


I get the sense that this togetherness is about to be dealt a death blow. RVP was a big part of that and you could see it in the way he lead as a captain and how the players responded to him. Theo is next to leave, an issue that we haven't even touched on yet and having two of our best performers from last season leave in another summer window is really going to mess with the squad. Certain players are going to be pissed off and their going to be questioning our ambition next...wash and repeat. It's downward spiral because we keep chipping away at what we're building and it's two steps back every bloody season.

To counter the negative, the club has to bring in two or three quality players if RVP and Theo leave this summer. We can't go into next season with these departures. It's too bloody negative and we'll have a repeat of the last season where nobody felt like playing and we looked flat. What pisses me off is the fact that we could all see this coming ages ago but the club sat back and did nothing. When RVP had two years left on his contract and we had the hoopla with Nasri and Cesc, I said there is no way RVP and Theo are going to sign new deals after this summer. We needed a big season to convince them to stay and we should have showed more ambition in the January transfer window. We didn't and we're not learning the lesson.

[V-Pig]

Good luck at a team which isn't completely moulded around you and at which you're not Jesus. How does that work out in the Dutch team?

Hoping for a couple of juicy fights between Balotelli and RVP being reported in the gutter press.

Also, for how long can he remain injury free? Sell him and give all the money to Alex Song tbh.

[LDG]

Alex Song :bow:

[V-Pig]

Alex Song :bow:

:bow:

[Xhaka Can’t]

I get the sense that this togetherness is about to be dealt a death blow. RVP was a big part of that and you could see it in the way he lead as a captain and how the players responded to him. Theo is next to leave, an issue that we haven't even touched on yet and having two of our best performers from last season leave in another summer window is really going to mess with the squad. Certain players are going to be pissed off and their going to be questioning our ambition next...wash and repeat. It's downward spiral because we keep chipping away at what we're building and it's two steps back every bloody season.

To counter the negative, the club has to bring in two or three quality players if RVP and Theo leave this summer. We can't go into next season with these departures. It's too bloody negative and we'll have a repeat of the last season where nobody felt like playing and we looked flat. What pisses me off is the fact that we could all see this coming ages ago but the club sat back and did nothing. When RVP had two years left on his contract and we had the hoopla with Nasri and Cesc, I said there is no way RVP and Theo are going to sign new deals after this summer. We needed a big season to convince them to stay and we should have showed more ambition in the January transfer window. We didn't and we're not learning the lesson.

You could say the Club have learnt a lesson and demonstrated it by making two signings at the right side of the window. Other than that however, we are repeating the same mistakes of the past.

In mitigation however, how big a priority would extending RvP have been this time last year? What would have been the reaction to offering a talented yet injury prone striker an extended contract up to when he is around 33?

[Power n Glory]

Song's not signing a new deal. He's trying to get his stock up and get noticed by the big clubs. He'll be gone next summer.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Song's not signing a new deal. He's trying to get his stock up and get noticed by the big clubs. He'll be gone next summer.

I Know What You Did Next Summer!

[Power n Glory]

You could say the Club have learnt a lesson and demonstrated it by making two signings at the right side of the window. Other than that however, we are repeating the same mistakes of the past.

In mitigation however, how big a priority would extending RvP have been this time last year? What would have been the reaction to offering a talented yet injury prone striker an extended contract up to when he is around 33?

That last statement shows the hypocrisy of this whole affair. We can't talk about showing loyalty when we're considering throwing players on the scrap heap because of their age and injury record. If we're thinking about how much we can get out of him, he's thinking along the same lines and has every right to want out after his contract has ended.

[V-Pig]

I get the sense that this togetherness is about to be dealt a death blow. RVP was a big part of that and you could see it in the way he lead as a captain and how the players responded to him. Theo is next to leave, an issue that we haven't even touched on yet and having two of our best performers from last season leave in another summer window is really going to mess with the squad. Certain players are going to be pissed off and their going to be questioning our ambition next...wash and repeat. It's downward spiral because we keep chipping away at what we're building and it's two steps back every bloody season.

To counter the negative, the club has to bring in two or three quality players if RVP and Theo leave this summer. We can't go into next season with these departures. It's too bloody negative and we'll have a repeat of the last season where nobody felt like playing and we looked flat. What pisses me off is the fact that we could all see this coming ages ago but the club sat back and did nothing. When RVP had two years left on his contract and we had the hoopla with Nasri and Cesc, I said there is no way RVP and Theo are going to sign new deals after this summer. We needed a big season to convince them to stay and we should have showed more ambition in the January transfer window. We didn't and we're not learning the lesson.

Can't help but feel I'd care more if this wasn't Walnutt. I'd be fine with him leaving. Boyish good looks and polite enthusiasm can only go so far.

[Xhaka Can’t]

That last statement shows the hypocrisy of this whole affair. We can't talk about showing loyalty when we're considering throwing players on the scrap heap because of their age and injury record. If we're thinking about how much we can get out of him, he's thinking along the same lines and has every right to want out after his contract has ended.

I don't dispute that. But when you are looking to commit millions of pounds of funds to a player you have to consider that - it would be ridiculous not to.

Likewise, he is entitled to walk away at the end of a contract.

[Power n Glory]

Can't help but feel I'd care more if this wasn't Walnutt. I'd be fine with him leaving. Boyish good looks and polite enthusiasm can only go so far.

You'd be fine, but the team morale won't. That's the point I was making. Every player is replaceable and RVP was never going to have another season like he had last season, but the point is, we've lost another first team player, our captain, again! It's another blow to the club and each time we lose first team players like this it sows doubt in the mind of the current players we still have playing for us. How do the rest of the team feel about this? It's like passing on an STD every season because we keep getting f***ed over!

[V-Pig]

You'd be fine, but the team morale won't. That's the point I was making. Every player is replaceable and RVP was never going to have another season like he had last season, but the point is, we've lost another first team player, our captain, again! It's another blow to the club and each time we lose first team players like this it sows doubt in the mind of the current players we still have playing for us. How do the rest of the team feel about this? It's like passing on an STD every season because we keep getting f***ed over!

They just need a new focus point. RVP was clearly a big character, but there's still Vermaelen, Song, Sagna, Sneezey, Wilshere and Arteta. All with a good mixture of experience/confidence/anger/loyalty/presence. The team will be fine. Walcott isn't a key player. Look at Eboue's comments about him after he'd left. RVP will hit them, though less because of the introduction of a player of such proven class like Podolski. But Walcott. He's not a big personality and he's not a great player.

[BOBN]

Good luck at a team which isn't completely moulded around you and at which you're not Jesus. How does that work out in the Dutch team?
hes a top top CF in the middle of 3 forwards (433). he flatters to deceive on the left, on the right, in the hole and in a 2. wenger finally found his best and only position. it wasnt just about injuries, he was stuggling to find a role he was good at (the "new bergkamp" stuff was bollocks). a new club may expect him to fill one of these other roles and if that happens id expect him to struggle. but keep him in the middle of a 3 and he should do ok.

[Kano]

But Walcott. He's not a big personality and he's not a great player.
lose theo along with rvp right now and we move back to the beginning of last summer.

[Power n Glory]

They just need a new focus point. RVP was clearly a big character, but there's still Vermaelen, Song, Sagna, Sneezey, Wilshere and Arteta. All with a good mixture of experience/confidence/anger/loyalty/presence. The team will be fine. Walcott isn't a key player. Look at Eboue's comments about him after he'd left. RVP will hit them, though less because of the introduction of a player of such proven class like Podolski. But Walcott. He's not a big personality and he's not a great player.

You don't get it do you. You don't rate Theo as a player...whatever. But he was still a second highest scorer behind RVP and I think third with the assists. We lost RVP and Theo in one season and it shows zero ambition on our part.

As for the players you mentioned. How do you think it will affect them? Song hasn't signed a new deal yet and I think he hasn't got long left on his contract. Sagna doesn't say shit and is always silent. Has no relationship with the fans what so ever, who knows what's going on with him and I wouldn't be surprised if he's looking for the exit. He's professional but don't mistake that for loyalty to the club. Wilshere is crocked and who knows what he's going to be like next season and Arteta is old and not the future of this club. Plus, his assist and goal record was shit. We're starting again from square one. The three players that had any cohesion on attack were Song, Theo and RVP. You can see it in the goal and assist stats. Losing two out of the three will be damaging just like how our fluid play was damaged by Cesc and Nasri's departure. We'll survive, but we're starting all over again.

[Power n Glory]

lose theo along with rvp right now and we move back to the beginning of last summer.

Somebody gets it!

[V-Pig]

Yet what more could AW do? He started off this summer by signing one giant player and one highly-rated player. RVP had clearly made up his mind a few months ago. Wenger's shown some intent despite the Euros interfering. If RVP leaves, it's not because of this year's transfer dealings.

[Xhaka Can’t]

lose theo along with rvp right now and we move back to the beginning of last summer.

Well I think that is exactly where we are heading, with the exception of signing a couple of players and giving them time to adjust to the system. We have a system don't we?

Ordinarily I would not be bothered about the Theo situation, but we need some continuity and he has shown with greater consistency what he can do. It would provide us with some positive light within the shitcloud within which we are currently engulfed if we managed to agree terms with him.

[Kano]

Yet what more could AW do? He started off this summer by signing one giant player and one highly-rated player. RVP had clearly made up his mind a few months ago. Wenger's shown some intent despite the Euros interfering. If RVP leaves, it's not because of this year's transfer dealings.

be more ruthless a year or two ago and sell him if he didn't sign a new contract, instead of clinging onto players in the hope that things work out in the end.

its a pattern that is not being learnt from.

[BOBN]

the same people who are saying we should let walcott go are the same who said "anybody will be better than gallas, good riddance". well, since gallas weve shipped goals in record numbers since people like vermalean are even worse.

[V-Pig]

I get the continuity aspect of it, but we can't overlook the fact that it's Theo. How galling would it be to see us lose RVP but get the compensatory renewal of Walcott for 4 years at £80k a week? That just sends out the message that we reward mediocrity.

[V-Pig]

the same people who are saying we should let walcott go are the same who said "anybody will be better than gallas, good riddance". well, since gallas weve shipped goals in record numbers since people like vermalean are even worse.

I don't think I had an opinion on Gallas at the time. I think Theo is a good squad option. I'd be fine keeping him on the same wages as a good sub.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I get the continuity aspect of it, but we can't overlook the fact that it's Theo. How galling would it be to see us lose RVP but get the compensatory renewal of Walcott for 4 years at £80k a week? That just sends out the message that we reward mediocrity.

Theo is showing promise of being much more than mediocre.

We simply can't go on losing 2 of the 3 or 4 players we rely on most each season.

[V-Pig]

Agreed. But we've gained a class player and a very good player in exchange for an injury prone captain, who, though undoubtedly mega-awesome, was a bit volatile and risky. And old.

If, as people are saying, the RVP damage was done last season when we didn't sign anyone massive to reassure him, then all AW can do now to prevent Walcott and Song leaving is make this transfer window as positive as possible. These two are a good start. Who else can we get?

[V-Pig]

Actually though, where's Stan in all this? Shouldn't he, like, be doing something?

[Kano]

then all AW can do now to prevent Walcott and Song leaving is make this transfer window as positive as possible.
as soon as possible was at least a year ago when theo two years on his contract but once again, we have two players ready to wind down and take control. song either has to sign this summer or be sold.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Actually though, where's Stan in all this? Shouldn't he, like, be doing something?

Sleeping comfortably.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYaSGC-YgaU/T2BsBkO6WsI/AAAAAAAAADA/MWC3_bnCBYw/s1600/money-under-the-mattress.jpg

[V-Pig]

I hope not. A lot of my Arsenal love was linked to RVP but it's always been Alex Song. If he leaves, I'll be a journeyman, clinging onto the likes of Koscielny and Sagna.