Good Bye RVP!

[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