Arsenal: Would you sell Van Persie now?

Arsenal fans will have woken up to the back pages of the newspapers this morning to find one of their star players, Robin Van Persie, being lined up with a move to rivals Manchester United. This sort of Press speculation surrounding Arsenal players isn’t anything new, after all every summer Arsenal’s top names are involved in will they or won’t they leave transfer sagas. First it was Vieria, then it was Henry and most recently Cesc Fabregas’s future has been the main focus of the Press. But now it looks as though the attention could swing towards the future of Dutch international Robin Van Persie.

The former Feyenoord striker is rated at about £20 million but with just one year left on his current contract at the Emirates he could walk away from the club next summer for nothing and Manchester United and Inter Milan are believed to be watching the situation intently.

Van Persie, 26, who signed for the club in 2004 but has only one FA Cup winner’s medal to his name, has so far refused to sign a new contract at Arsenal. However, it has been claimed that Van Persie is happy with the contract on offer from the Gunners but that he wants to see if Arsene Wenger’s signings this summer match his ambition to win silverware. But if you were Arsene Wenger would you cash in on one of your main assets now than risk losing him for nothing next summer?

There’s no denying that Van Persie is a top class striker. He has the pace, the skill, the strength and ability to beat defenders, is one of the best strikers of the ball in the game, and is an integral member of Arsene Wenger’s long-term plans. He supplied the most assists last season and scored 20 times himself in all competitions. However, Van Persie is very injury prone and has started just 79 Premier League games in the past five seasons.

Van Persie is a big game player and has rose to the challenge when the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have come to town, but Arsenal fans would like to see him producing the goods on the pitch regularly. However, could they cope without him?

Adebayor only turned on the style last season when he wanted to, Eduardo was still picking up niggling injuries following his lengthy spell out of the game while Arshavin could be Arsenal’s main man next season. Not forgetting Theo Walcott, who is determined to show Arsene Wenger that he can play as an out and out centre forward.

Personally I think Arsenal have more than enough quality to choose from going forward, but Van Persie, on his day, can produce the spectacular and make things out of nothing. However, Van Persie will be fully aware that not too many former Arsenal players have gone on to better things after leaving the Gunners, so he may consider staying put. But then this is Manchester United and Inter Milan we are talking about here. Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho are winners and Van Persie would be guaranteed medals at either club.

Arsenal have gone four years without any silverware and the fans have began to start questioning Arsene Wenger’s plans. The players are also beginning to get disillusioned about the lack of success at the club and a number of them are rumoured to be considering their future. This season may turn out to be a decisive one in the future of Arsenal Football Club.

But if you were Arsene Wenger would you be prepared to cash in on Van Persie now or hold on to him in the hope of bringing some silverware back to the club and risk losing him next summer for nothing? I’d love to hear from you.

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