Hi, My name is Dylan. I've been an Arsenal fan since the day I was born, and, well, we've had ups and downs. I was a baby when we won the league at Anfield, but I've seen the "It's up for grabs now!" clip countless times, such is my love of Arsenal. When we've scored spectacular goals, in the sense of importance or skill, I've wanted to replay them forever, as the grin that appears on my face when I see goals such as Arshavin's against Barcelona in February 2011 cannot be replicated by anyone else. I love these moments. It's not just the skill taken to produce the goal (though Nasri's perfect pass to pick out Arshavin is top class) but it's also remembering where I was when that happened. I couldn't make it to that Barcelona game, but I was at home with a few of my mates at the time, and I cannot imagine a more wild moment than hearing "ARSHAVIIIIIIIIIN" as the whole of the Premier League received a huge middle finger for ever doubting that we could beat them. And as we enter a new year, I would like to say this: We have a golden chance this year to ensure that we can have more moments like this. I'm sure you realise that this season, Robin Van Persie has finally emerged as the world beater many of us knew he would be, and only now are rival fans beginning to understand this. Of course, public interest attracts rival interest, and if media rumours (and managers themselves) are to be believed, we now have a whole host of clubs after our prized possession. And while in previous seasons this has been the case, such as with Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry, it matters now more than ever that we keep Van Persie. He has played at least 80 minutes in all our Premier League fixtures bar one, and by god have we needed him. In the one game that he didn't play at least 80 minutes, we needed him to score twice, against Stoke, to enable us to get three points. This shows how much we need him. In the past we could actually win games without Fabregas and Henry, but now it seems we cannot. The only games we have won without him this season have been in the carling cup against very weak teams (with the upmost respect to Shrewsbury and Bolton) and we cannot afford to lose him. Therefore, you, the board, should make his contract your top priority this summer. If he wants £200k a week, by god, give it to him. That's what he'll be getting at Madrid or City, and he deserves it, especially if players like Rooney are earning even more. What difference does it make to you, financially? Ignoring the fact that money for new players has either been severely held back or 'invested back into the club', the amount of money he'll earn by actually keeping us in Europe or whatever will far eclipse his extra salary demands. While the above will ensure our club will continue enjoying nice moments in the future, I believe that short term, there is a huge opportunity for us as a club: Our rivals are the worst they have been for some time. Manchester United and Manchester City cannot make it into the knockout stages of the Champions League, Chelsea are constantly faltering and Liverpool seem confused and dazed without Luis Suarez. Our North London neighbours seem to be faring better than expected, unlike many others around them, but rather than this being a reason to not push for glory this season, I see this as the MAIN REASON to do so. If you, or whoever is refusing to spend the money needed to strengthen or side, actually spends money this transfer window, Arsenal could pull off a huge coup and steal a trophy. We are only nine points behind Manchester City and far greater distances have been easily made up in the past, as you should remember. A few players now. That is all, I believe, we need to challenge for the title. This is our golden chance. Signing players later is not an option, as key players such as Van Persie may have become increasingly tired of the refusal to strengthen and leave, and he simply cannot be replaced by anyone at the moment. And off the pitch, spending a simple few million on players would, in the long run, ensure the financial security of the club. In addition to the money from winning the trophy, many Arsenal fans who have become angered by the lack of trophies would return in their droves, and key players would stay at the club, reducing the need for future spending. In my opinion, it's a win win for all parties. And even though you will probably never read this, I am sending this to you in the hope that I will not receive the stock reply, but instead receive the news that Arsenal have signed players of the calibre needed to ensure that we remain strong. Then, I feel, it will be much better for everyone. Good luck.
I think everybody within the club understand, that RVP is much more important now to Arsenal than Farbregas has ever been. Unlike Fabregas or Henry or any other player who has left Arsenal in the last 10 years there is no excuse whatsoever for not keeping him.
You're probably right, I don't think anyone on the board is that interested in what the fans think. Wenger probably is though so maybe you should send a copy to him?
To be honest, mate, I doubt he has much of a say in it. I think the board continuously **** with the budgets, but Wenger's genius is what has kept us in the top four.
Hmmm no one can really say that for sure though can they? Still he might write you a reply back so its worth sending a copy to him i feel.
