It does not appear that we do a great job of keeping players lately - you are right. But I still think we have a chance of keeping him.
To be honest, Wenger really wants to keep hold of RVP. He didn't have much choice with Fabs and Nasri wasn't a big enough must. But RVP is different, he doesn't have DNA problems or loyalty issues. I agree, it's in the hands of the board and Wenger. RVP can be kept, they just need to make the right moves. Some people are saying sell him and get someone else in if he makes a fuss. We would have to pay over £35m to get someone near his class. It's cheaper and easier to bump up RVPs wages and keep him!
RVP still has a year left on his contract and I think we should keep him regardless of whether he signs this summer. Even if it means losing him on a free next summer. To me he is irreplaceable .
I think it will be about more than wages - i think RVP will want to see Fabregas and Nasri properly replaced AND some the players who are not good enough moved away from the first team.
He has about two more years at the top. Wenger will give him a 3 year deal and a big signing bonus say 10M. That way he will not break the salary scale but gets rewarded. He will do much the same with Walcott except for 5 years. It does mean our war chest will not be as hefty, but it will keep him at the club. Leaving a club for trophies is dangerous.Anyway the sheiks have bought the league now. They will get bored and leave.
yes we should not be prepared to sell him. Insist he stays for the year. We may even persuade him to re-sign during a successful next season.
Yes both Piskie and BDM are correct. Keep RVP regardless and look to progress and invest for next season. We don't need the money and we would struggle to get a replacement near his class. Also who knows, he may sign a new contract on his last year....
I'm fully confident that RvP will re-sign as long as he gets assurances from Wenger that we will spend this summer and strengthen the squad to challenge for the title. When you read how much his family love London, it's hard to see him leaving. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/robin-van-persies-wife-bouchra-830189 This is a guy who has supported Arsenal since he was a kid don't forget.
I don't think this is an option. By all accounts it was the board that made Wenger sell Nasri and Fab at the last minute. It seems if the cash is right they will instruct Wenger to sell. We won't get anywhere near as much for RVP now he only has one season left so the board will no doubt try to maximise his price rather than risk losing £20m for him in his final season !!
What assurances ? Nasri wanted investment ... and all he saw was Jenkinson and Gervinho. Wenger is in no position to give assurances. An assurance is worth nothing, RVP will want to actually see quality coming in, not assurances that they will.
No, Nasri wanted more money. Hence why he whored himself to United and then City. I would guess the early deal for Podolski is somewhat related to showing rvp that talent will be brought in. Another signing before the end of June is also expected.
Although i don't like what Nasri, did but it's debatable whether it was soley down to money. Actions speak louder than words, and it's time for Wenger and co to dust off the ol Wallet and go shopping. He's started well with the Pod, but we need a few more players in to realistically challenge. We are still way off the pace to do it with our current 11. The huge points difference between the 2 tops teams and Arsenal tells the whole story.
It is an option, because he's still under contract with Arsenal for at least another year. I agree with BADM and Lazarus, that if we can invest in the team and progress next year (which RVP would be an essential part of) then he may sign another contract during next year. This is the approach that I thought we should have taken with Nasri, but you're right, the board forced the sale. I also agree with Lazarus in that we don't really need the money as much as we need RVP. I think we would have an almost impossible task replacing him.
I think if RVP really wants to win something, then there is no way he will realise that ambition with us. Wenger already said he expects a quiet transfer window. If he is willing to put that ambition away and stay for romantic reasons.... then he will stay. However if he does not sign a new contract before the start of the season, he will be sold, no way the Board/Money men will allow one of our prized assets leave for nothing, especially since AW say he has a net-spend of 15-20mill every season, don't know what he can sell to realise this figure now......
I firmly believe he should either sign or be sold before 19th May when he leaves for the Euro's. I just dont want this drag out into July and close to our pre season tour. The tour was ajoke last year with players not even travelling - like Fabregas because we were still apparently negotiating. By the time we get back we're well into the final pre season games, and I cant see us negotiating for new players whilst we're in the far east.
That's the grim reality isn't it. It's hard to stomach being Arsenal fans, but if RVP wants to win stuff then he really has to move on. We have some quality youngsters coming through but it would take a number of years for them to get to their prime. This would be too long a wait for RVP that has a few years left in top tier football
I may be alone on this but I believe in the long run its in the best interest of the club to sell Rvp if he doesn't sign a new contract. We will get just one more year out of him in that scenario at the end of which he will leave for nothing leaving us in a bit of a dilemma one year from now. Provided we Reinvest ALL the money we get from his sale there's no reason why he can't be replaced. People said the same about nasri and fabregas and we ended up having a better year than last IMO. We aren't as dependant on him as people make out.
Who knows, it may be that Podolski and Campbell have stand out years next year... especially if we invested ALL the RVP money into a top class creative midfielder... i.e. tempt Dortmund with £40m for Goetze, or £25m for Kagawa...
