Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn fears Robin van Persie is losing faith in manager Arsene Wenger after Sunday’s agonising home defeat to Manchester United.
The Gunners captain openly shared the frustration of the Emirates Stadium crowd when Wenger opted to cut short youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s sensational full Premier League debut after 73 minutes and replace him with out-of-favour Russian Andrey Arshavin.
Winterburn believes the talismanic Dutchman’s reaction to the decision was telling, and fears any further loss of hope may drive him to leave the club when his current contract expires at the end of next season.
"I know Robin van Persie loves the football club,” Winterburn told Sky Sports News.
“What was slightly worrying yesterday was his reaction when [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought off and also at the end of the game.
"He was staring into the abyss. You wonder what he was thinking there.
"It was almost like 'oh no not again, we got ourselves into a great position and we've let it slip'.
"I hope he stays. I think Arsene Wenger will be looking at himself and the players he's got at the football club to analyse where it has gone wrong for Arsenal.
"They've got to re-focus for the end of the season, try and get into fourth position and I hope he will re-strengthen the squad in the summer."