Good Bye RVP!

[Letters]

I suspect that had Dein still been around we'd have seen some better players come in, he may well have been more persuasive with regards what's needed financially, unlike the current lot who seem happy to pocket whatever comes in.

I agree, actually. I'm not adverse to spending money and I think we've been far too cautious in the transfer market and it's cost us trophies. But I wouldn't want Arsenal to 'do a City'. If you can't see it would taint any achievements then...well, you must be able to.

[IBK]

Re RVP I don't agree that everything boils down to money. Plenty of people stay im jobs because they are happy there. Plenty of footballers have shown that they can move for money yet regret it. The Na$ri's of this world are the exception rather than the rule. I'm not saying RVP's decision isn't going to rest principally on commercial interests, but I hope that well being will play a part in his decision.

[Xhaka Can’t]

He's our Captain so of course he is leaving.

Hopefully Ramsey is our next Captain.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Re RVP I don't agree that everything boils down to money. Plenty of people stay im jobs because they are happy there. Plenty of footballers have shown that they can move for money yet regret it. The Na$ri's of this world are the exception rather than the rule. I'm not saying RVP's decision isn't going to rest principally on commercial interests, but I hope that well being will play a part in his decision.

RVP will go to where he goes if he leaves to win things because like People have said on here.

He is coming to the end of his career and would want to win things or have other medals rather then the 2005 one.

If he stays then he must really believe in this team for the next few seasons.

[Marc Overmars]

The issue is that clubs with the best chance of winning trophies also happen to be the richest clubs, by definition. So I can understand why a player would jump at the chance to pocket 150k a week and some medals.

It's not an issue of money with RVP (unless we're grossly undervaluing him), the guy is clearly an Arsenal man but it's reasonable enough to think the perception of Arsenal now is not the same as it is with Man City et al.

So it's a huge decision for RVP to make but I do have to agree I'd lose a little respect for him if he chose City, he'd be nothing more than a spare part there.

[Ollie the Optimist]

you can see from the way he has played this season, the way he has organsied off field events for the team and his celebrations that he really cares. look at the tackle he attempted at west borm, was so desperate to get there you could see it. this man cares about us and loves us and for that reason alone he will stay. he believes in us and he loves the captaincy. im convinced he will stay

[Kano]

So it's a huge decision for RVP to make but I do have to agree I'd lose a little respect for him if he chose City, he'd be nothing more than a spare part there.

Ditto. I'd understand why he would for professional reasons but it would feel like a stab in the back of course, on a tribal level.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

you can see from the way he has played this season, the way he has organsied off field events for the team and his celebrations that he really cares. look at the tackle he attempted at west borm, was so desperate to get there you could see it. this man cares about us and loves us and for that reason alone he will stay. he believes in us and he loves the captaincy. im convinced he will stay

Is it enough though. Yes he cares we know that his speech told us that. "What ever happens i will always love this club"

He won't stay if no ambition is shown no matter how much he loves the club.

[Özim]

I agree, actually. I'm not adverse to spending money and I think we've been far too cautious in the transfer market and it's cost us trophies. But I wouldn't want Arsenal to 'do a City'. If you can't see it would taint any achievements then...well, you must be able to.

I do agree with you that spending such huge amounts does taint the achievement somewhat, however I do think the way we do things is equally deplorable (on the opposite end of the scale).

We should spend money and a club of our stature should be able to attract some top players, particularly after selling some, Podolski is a good move IMO, but that's just one player (and I worry he may well end up the replacement for RVP) and we need a few more quality players.

[Syn]

Is it enough though. Yes he cares we know that his speech told us that. "What ever happens i will always love this club"

He won't stay if no ambition is shown no matter how much he loves the club.

We'll find out at some point. You can run through 100 different theories as to what things he'd value and you could spin it either way. And here's mine:

I take the view that footballers don't think like fans. They're not obsessed with trophies. They want to win and be very famous and in the top bracket of footballers. In order to do that, they can't play for Doncastwood Argyle. They need to play at the highest level and Arsenal are playing at the highest level (the European Cup). Some players (and I think Van Persie is one) like being the big fish in a reasonable-sized pond. They want a lot of money though and if Arsenal are to keep him they have to be prepared to give him a lot of money. If I was Van Persie and even if I didn't really care about Arsenal, I'd know that I could be the king at this club. I would've spent 7 years here already, if I stay for another 5, job done - legend status, hero status, worshipped by every gooner. If I leave now, I won't be a hero here or anywhere else. I wouldn't be a 'legend' of any club. I'm 29 years old and I've got about 3/4 years at the top (if that, considering my injury proneness) and even if I move to Barcelona or Real Madrid and win a couple of titles, I'm not going to be a club legend at those places either. I'll have a shiny medal to show my grandkids. If I stay at Arsenal, I might not have that shiny medal. But, when I'm retired and I'm walking near the stadium and go to a game, I'll get more people telling me how great I was that the kudos is better than the shiny medal for something Barcelona or Real Madrid or Man City probably would've done whether or not I was there. Think about how valued Bergkamp is and how valued Henry is amongst Arsenal fans. That could be me and I'd choose getting a free pint and hero status over anything else (assuming, as I said, I was playing at the highest level).

I think if Henry had to make a choice again, he wouldn't have gone to Barcelona. Hope he had a word with RVP when he was over.