Gunners release statement on van Persie

RvP may stay on for last year of current deal

By Zain Alvi | 4th July 2012

Arsenal have made an official statement regarding Robin van Persie’s decision to refuse a contract extension, indicating that both parties will likely honor the final year of the player’s current contract.

Van Persie’s current deal runs up until the end of the 2012-13 season and despite the Dutchman making it clear that diverging views about the club’s future will prevent him from staying on, the Gunners appear to have no issues with upholding their previous stance of not selling the skipper.

“  We have to respect Robin’s decision not to renew his contract. Robin has one year to run on his current contract and we are confident that he will fulfil his commitments to the club,” the statement read on Arsenal.com.

The second half of the statement also implied that with RvP on board next year, the club will go all out in pursuit of ending a frustrating seven-year trophy drought.

“We are planning with ambition and confidence for next season with Arsenal’s best interests in mind,” the statement concluded.

Many Gunners faithful will feel that the club’s best interests actually involve off-loading a non-committal van Persie rather than letting him walk away for free next summer.

They already saw former captain Cesc Fabregas commit to play on with a confused mindset in the 2010-11 campaign, before finally moving to Barcelona last year after yet another trophy-less campaign at Arsenal.