By Sir Hardly Anyone.
There is a very fanciful story in the Telegraph from Robin van Persie who is about to become a BT Sport pundit. In the piece he talks about how he preferred being in Manchester with Utd to being in London. He says how nice the people were in Manchester, how everyone is so polite, and how he was just having fun there, and not bothered about what people said.
Certainly that is how he came across to me as an Arsenal supporter – he forced his way out of Arsenal, when Arsenal did not want to sell him, and went to Man U, where I guess inevitably people would have welcomed him.
However being happy is only part of the story, as the decline of his form showed. And we should recall his move to Man U did not signify the end of his career – he had another five years playing after that spell, and indeed has only just finished playing, this last season. So his figures at Man U can be compared with Arsenal’s.
| Season | Club | Games | Goals | Percentage games to goals |
| 2008/9 | Arsenal | 44 | 20 | 45% |
| 2009/10 | 20 | 10 | 50% | |
| 2010/11 | 33 | 22 | 67% | |
| 2011/12 | 48 | 37 | 77% | |
| 2012/13 | Manchester U | 48 | 30 | 62% |
| 2013/14 | 28 | 18 | 64% | |
| 2014/15 | 29 | 10 | 34% |
The Arsenal record shows a player being nurtured and developed, raising his performance year on year until in is final two years he reached a goals to game ratio of 67% and 77%.
Once he reached Man U, he never got to that level again and quickly slumped back to a level way below anything he ever reached at Arsenal. It just goes to show what a story he can tell, and why it might not be worth listening to anything he has to say when he joins BT Sport as a Manchester facing pundit this coming season.
But what particularly made this tale news once again, apart from RVP’s move to BT Sprout, is that the Daily Express has a really funny tale about the other big name forward who has gone north to Man U from Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez.
The Express says that “while the expectations were that the 30-year-old would be an Old Trafford hit, he has found the net just five times in the time since.
“Manchester United were hoping to offload Sanchez this summer but have failed to find a buyer, with the player’s huge salary of £500,000-a-week deterring potential suitors.
It is said that United found out from Arsenal that Sanchez was characterised as a loner during his time in north London. He was even described as ‘downright sullen at times’.
“But, by the time United found out the information, it was too late with Sanchez already signing on the dotted line.”
Now of course Manchester United may be staffed with a bunch of second hand drongos and digit weavers, but even so, isn’t it likely that the club would have done a bit of research among what the media love to call “insiders” into the personality of the player?
Indeed it shouldn’t have been too hard to pick up information. One only had to watch him on the pitch at Arsenal Stadium when he was off form or the game was going against Arsenal to see exactly what was going on. The wave of the hand, the turning of the back… it was all there to be seen.
What Arsenal did at the start was to manage Alexis in such a way that these personality defects could be overcome so he could become a team player. That was by and large down to the genius of Mr Wenger as a man manager – although of course one is never going to get the Express to admit that.
Anyway, here’s the rest of the tittle tattle that been traipsing around the internet of late…
“Daniele Rugani to Arsenal: Juventus chief ‘travels to London’ as Emery makes transfer admission”
That is in It would appear that Juve have no plans to let go of Rugani this summer. Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport report the Old Lady have rejected an offer from Arsenal as they regard the defender as an important squad member despite de Ligt’s arrival from Ajax Furthermore, Giorgio Chiellini also nursing a calf injury which has harming the Gunners’ chances of agreeing a deal.”
So what we now know is that when FoLo puts something in inverted commas it is not true.
“Arsenal news and transfers live: Juventus transfer chief ‘to arrive in London’, Coutinho update”
According to Alfredo Pedulla, Juventus Sporting Director Fabio Paratici is expected to arrive in London in the next few days to negotiate with Arsenal for defender Daniele Rugani. The report claims Juve will sell if the offer is adequate.”But of course this is Arsenal, and Arsenal can screw up a transfer in ways other sides can only marvel at. I know that because I read it in the papers. Hence Sportslens has,
“Report: Wolves ready to pip Arsenal to signing of four-time league winner.”
It’s Rugani again, in case you didn’t guess.
Moving on we have “How Arsenal could stun the Premier League” from “some might argue the best way to cover for a leaky backline is to simply score more goals. The arrivals of Pépé and Dani Ceballos certainly suggest this is the mindset adopted by those at the Emirates. Arsenal were only out-scored by Manchester City and Liverpool last season. Their 73 goals in the Premier League saw them finish six clear of the fourth-most prolific team in the English top-flight, Spurs.”
Apart from never using the word ***** I could have written that myself. In fact I think I possibly did.
And there is more.
“Unai Emery has denied that Arsenal made a surprise bid to take Philippe Coutinho on a season-long loan from Barcelona” says the Independent.
While keeping up with the tradition of knocking Arsenal this summer that has so eloquently been established by AST, Arseblog, Black Scarf, The Gooner, Le Grove, Redaction, She Wore…, and 7am kickoff, through claiming that Arsenal had a transfer budget so small that Barnsley could out bid them (or something like that) the Transfer Tavern runs, “‘Get rid of this clown’ – Some Arsenal fans tear into 27-year-old.” Good to know the solidity is holding, well, solid…
So there we have it. And it’s all true. Just like the £45m transfer budget.
‘Once he reached Man U, he never got to that level again and quickly slumped back to a level way below anything he ever reached at Arsenal.’
Rvp was Man U’s top scorer that first season, and pretty much won them the league. He moved because he knew he’d never win a title at Arsenal.
After that he declined but it was a worthwhile transfer for Utd- even for just that first season and a humiliating loss for arsenal.
The Sanchez transfer is not comparable.
It’s been a disaster for both clubs.
Remember we could have sold him to Man city for £60 million but instead idiotically kept hold of him, ending up with zero plus Mhikitaryan.
I just love the idea that a player who is wanted by Arsenal would choose to go to Wolves. No disrespect to Wolves but seriously, it’s laughable that a player would choose a team that yo-yo’s in and out of the Premier League against a team of Arsenal’s pedigree……………unless, of course, he’s become aware of the AAA and how “supportive” they are of the players!!
That’ll make BT Sport even more unbearable to watch/listen to then!
RVP and Sanchez were both rather very unprofessional in their attempts to engineer dream moves away from Arsenal to the bright lights of Manchester , but in the end their both got their just deserts . That Karma was amply served in both cases , truly gladdens my heart .
Condolences to those who pay good money to BT Sports , in having to listen to some crap about their clubs. Especially by former disgruntled players , who think that they know better .
I would have thought that Man Utd would have tried to have employed the services of a dog whisperer to get a feel of the mood of the Sanchez brood before bidding for him. Anyway hope that at least those doggies are happy in Manchester !
@Mikey I think we’ve gotta watch out for Wolves this season.. they’re gonna get brutal and threatening to the top 6.
RVP could have had a statue outside the Emirates like Henry. He settled for a solitary PL medal. I wonder which history will remember more… after all Trafalgar Square is filled with medals not statues.
For what it is worth, I deliberately do not watch pre match build up on Sky, BT or anywhere else as half of what is said is biased; while the other half I could script myself while half-drunk. There is no cushier job than sitting on your bum for a few hours talking football with your friends/colleagues. If I want biased unsolicited opinion, I go to the barbershop. At least there, the stuff that comes out is original…
Yep he was their top scorer, but not at the ratio he scored at Arsenal. As for knowing why he left, well, you’ve always been the expert on mind reading, except when it comes to mind reading the authors of this site.
‘after all Trafalgar Square is filled with medals not statues’.
Que?
@Sue,
Re your 8.39, please do not associate yourself with Tony and his perpetual distaste of BT.
Better by far to remember the old, the sick, the lame and those living far from the Ems.
To these poor souls, BT is an integral part of their viewing, should they wish to follow their heroes. Not the spoken rubbish of course. The work of the cameramen is sufficient. 😎
Since Arsenal are the ones who made Robin van Persie to become what he later became, a top quality player in his football career before he joined Man Utd on a force transfer to help them win the PL title. He should always passionately be grateful to Arsenal for making him the top quality playing footballer he later became in his playing career at Arsenal. He should therefore eschew self-control resisting the urge to never castigate Arsenal at any forum of discussion in the media as a pundit. To do that by him will be grossly unbecoming of him I would say.
On the who of the duo centrebacks of Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig and Daniele Rugani of Juventus FC Arsenal should sign in the next 3 days time to reinforced their defence formation ahead of next season’s campaign in the PL. I will suggest if Arsenal have sufficient money in their transfer kitty remaining this summer and sufficient enough to sign Upamecano on a permanent deal and Rugani on a season long loan deal with an agreement with Juve to make the deal permanent next season but if he has a breaking season in top defending for Arsenal helping them to win title or titles next season. On this account, Arsenal should sign both of them.
This my suggestion to sign both of them is premised on Koscielny has succeeded to force a transfer out of the club. And Carl Jenkinson is reportedly looking set to go out on loan to Nottinham Forest seemingly.
Consequently, as a result of these 2 likely exists from Arsenal, 2 vacant positions in the Arsenal defense-line have to be filled in the next 3 days that remains in the transfer window to close this summer. Which I believe every Gooner is awere of.
If Arsenal succeeded to sign Upamecano and Rugani, that’s assuming they want to sign both of them, one of the duo can be played as a centreback. While the other one can be shifted to the right back position to temporarily play there as first choice until Bellerin is fully recover to resume playing for Arsenal. While in the main time, AMN will cover for one of the new signed Rugani or Upamecano as the case may be playing at right back. And later for Bellerin. I think AMN has to in the interim, accept tp cover for the right back position instead to be a starter there. But after he has improved vastly on his error prone making to stop back passing the ball into his team back of the net that has cost Arsenal loses in matches, Emery could reinstate him back to the right back when the opportunity becomes available to start as a starter or give him a different role in the team to undertake. Or another alternative will be to send him out on loan to a top League playing club side domestically or externally to further acquire defensive playing experience.
By the way, what are Arsenal going to do on the defensive inept Mustafi who could become surpluse to requirements at the club if Upamecano and Rugani are signed?
Hi Nicky… yes I understand what you’re saying… I do have BT & watch it when I’m not at the Ems, but I just can’t stand RVP… and have never been a fan of their punditry team, so put them both together – Argh!!!!
Guess I’ll be turning over at half time from now on & possibly muting 😄
Yes, the good old mute button on BT gets well pressed most of the time! 😎
Since Arsenal are the ones who made Robin van Persie to become what he later became, a top quality player in his football career before he joined Man Utd on a forced transfer to them helping them win the PL title. He should always passionately be grateful to Arsenal for making him the top quality playing footballer he later became in his playing career at Arsenal. He should therefore eschew self-control resisting the urge to never castigate Arsenal at any forum of discussion in the media as a pundit. To do that by him will be grossly unbecoming of him I would say.
On the who out of the duo centrebacks of Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig and Daniele Rugani of Juventus FC Arsenal should sign in the next 3 days time to reinforced their defence formation ahead of next season’s campaign in the PL. I will suggest if Arsenal have sufficient money in their transfer kitty remaining this summer and sufficient enough to sign Upamecano on a permanent deal and Rugani on a season long loan deal with an agreement with Juve to make the deal permanent next season but if he has a breaking season in top defending for Arsenal helping them to win title or titles next season. On this account, Arsenal should sign both of them.
This my suggestion to sign both of them is premised on Koscielny succeeding to force a transfer out of the club. And Carl Jenkinson is reportedly looking set to go out on loan to Nottinham Forest seemingly.
Consequently, as a result of these 2 likely exists from Arsenal, 2 vacant positions in the Arsenal defense-line have to be filled in the next 3 days that remains in the transfer window to close this summer. Which I believe every Gooner is awere of.
If Arsenal succeeded to sign Upamecano and Rugani, that’s assuming they want to sign both of them, one of the duo can be played as a centreback. While the other one can be shifted to the right back position to temporarily play there as first choice until Bellerin has fully recovered to resume playing for Arsenal. While in the main time, AMN should serve as cover to one of the new signed Rugani or Upamecano playing at right back as the case may be. And later for Bellerin. I think AMN has to in the interim, accept tp cover for the right back position instead to be a starter there. But after he has improved vastly on his error prone making to stop back passing the ball into his team back of the net that has cost Arsenal loses in matches, Emery could reinstate him back to the right back to as a starter to see if he has improved but when the opportunity to do that arises. Or give him a different role in the team to undertake. Or another alternative will be to send him out on loan to a top League playing club side domestically or externally to further acquire defensive playing experience.
By the way, what are Arsenal going to do on the defensive inept Mustafi who could become surpluse to requirements at the club if Upamecano and Rugani are signed?
I am reposting my the same comment again but after doing some corrections to it. But I want to be forgiven.
thanks for mentioning the genius Wenger who got the most out off Sanchez
it s a disgrace and sad state of non existent footy journalism that really nobody picks on this story, which is quite interesting I think.
really strange the constant downplaying of Arsenal/Arsene s merits
He really did a execellent job on Sanchez that brought FA Cup glory
To whom it may concern
The following is from an interview with RVP in 2018. It shows the enormous respect that he had for Arsene Wenger.
It’s just a pity some of our own fans don’t have the same respect for the man and fail to see the remarkable job the man did, and for that they should hang their heads in shame.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/robin-van-persie-says-fans-12403823
“Robin van Persie says fans should remember Arsenal were the BORES of English football before Arsene Wenger took over.
The former Arsenal forward has heaped praise on the job that Wenger has done after announcing he is standing down.
Robin van Persie has told Arsenal fans to remember that the Gunners were the big bores of English football until Arsene Wenger took over.
Van Persie took time out from preparing for Feyenoord’s Dutch Cup Final clash with AZ Alkmaar in Rotterdam today to pay tribute to the man who has announced he will stand down after almost 22 years as Arsenal boss at the end of the season.
The Dutch striker credits Wenger for playing a huge role in his own stellar career – and insists they did not fall out even when he left the Gunners in 2012 to join Manchester United.
But Van Persie insists that Emirates fans who have hounded the Frenchman over the last few seasons should be eternally grateful to him for transforming a club philosophy that was based on George Graham’s offside trap and 1-0 wins.
“Single-handedly he has changed the entire culture of the club. Every young player that arrived at the club would be told that they would get time to develop.
“He had this plan for so many seasons. And the most special thing about this was, that Arsene made it all happen! He always had patience and trust in his players.
“He certainly did with me. I made mistakes, you know, but Arsene kept supporting me.
“He made me learn from my mistakes. He would talk to me for hours. And step by step he helped me improve.
“When I first met Arsene, he told me he would give me all the opportunities I needed.
“When I say that his is my football father, I am not exaggerating. He has formed me as a man and as a player.”
Van Persie’s career was at a crossroads when Wenger plucked him from Feyenoord in a bargain £2.75million deal in 2004.
He had won a UEFA Cup medal at just 18, but was deemed to have an attitude problem. Wenger tamed the headstrong striker – and at the end of his first season, Van Persie stepped up to take a penalty in the 2005 FA Cup Final shoot-out against Manchester United in Cardiff.
Van Persie recalled: “After 120 minutes it was still 0-0. Arsene had his list of penalty takers but Edu, our Brazilian midfielder, was taking the third penalty but he pulled out.
“He was going to leave that summer and he did not want to risk that his last kick of ball for Arsenal was going to be a penalty miss in a cup final.
“Arsene looked around and said ‘well, who wants to take a penalty?’ When I said I’d take one, Wenger did not hesitate for a second.
“I may have sounded full of confidence, but I had only just arrived among the Arsenal big boys like Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp.
“I was very nervous. I told myself to get a grip but the world went black. I couldn’t see the goal as I placed the ball on the spot.
“But I hit the ball hard and it went like a rocket into the top corner. Some fans may have thought that was a cracking penalty, but all my team-mates and the boss knew that the stress had taken over.
“Vieira scored the last penalty and we won the cup.” Van Persie gave Arsenal full value for eight years before Sir Alex Ferguson handed him the chance to move to Old Trafford to win the Premier League title medal he craved.
The £22.5m deal represented one of the best pieces of business Ferguson did. And Van Persie admitted: “Leaving a manager like Arsene Wenger was tough. Really tough. In fact, it was tough for both of us.
“But there was no row when I left. In fact, we kept in touch and there was mutual respect.
“I think Arsene saw me as on of his football sons. We had endless conversations – but never had a single row in all those years at Arsenal. There was always understanding and respect.”
Lovely words. Lets hope he remembers them when he works on BT. We shall see.
As for: The £22.5m deal represented one of the best pieces of business Ferguson did.
Did it?
It may of helped win the tile but they may of won it anyway, either way I think it was possibly the most SELFISH pieces of business he ever did.
It was generally felt that there were other areas of the United squad that needed attention far more urgently than the forward line, yet Fergie palpably failed to address any of them, and arguably United still haven’t recovered from Fergies abject failure to do so.
United, despite spending almost £500 Million (nett) over the 6 years since then have, apart from 1 runners up finish, failed to get anywhere near a title, in fact their nett placing of 5th is worse than Arsenals 4th, and they have won just 1 Fa Cup, 1 League Cup and 1 Europa League Cup. That’s no better than Arsenals embarrasing 3 FA Cups over the same period.
I suggest, rather than lauding Fergie for the RVP transfer he should be roundly critisised for leaving United in such a hole that that HALF A BILLION QUID hasn’t been able to get them out of it.
I think it’s arguable that in the final analisis Arsenal did just as well, if not better than United, out of the deal. Remember, that was Van Persies last good season and we got 10 times his purchase price. If we had kept him one more year would it of won us the title? I doubt it. So as it turned out we sold him at the perfect time.
Why anyone would see that transfer as ‘humiliating’ for Arsenal I don’t know. But then again some people seem to see everything Arsenal do as humiliating.
Maybe they should support a different team that isn’t quite so embarasing for them ?
Spurs are all the rage, why not give them a try, I mean simply on the law of averages they have to win a trophy one day.
At least Rugani is a centre back. Most of the critics scream that Arsenal need to sign a centre back but never quite get round to naming one, or one that might be available. I certainly wouldn’t mind a 25 year old who can play anywhere along the back and from highlights, looks sturdy enough. Has gotten his head to a few as well. Would partner well with Sokratis if Holding takes too long to find match fitness. It may only be rumour, but at least it’s plausible.
So long Koscielny. I hope things go well for you in Bordeaux.
For me, van Persie left too soon. The difference between Arsenal and the title-winning Man U was van Persie. He made all the difference. If he had stayed one more year, we would most probably have won the league that year.
But then, he made his choice. How can he or anyone expect us to look at him with starry eyes?
@Gord. With all the bile and disrespect to the club that made him, just because he is going elsewhere?
No. I don’t wish him ill, but I have lost a huge chunk of the respect I had for him.
Does he remember that life continues after football? Does he realise that he has just dumped all his labour of 9 years at Arsenal in the garbage? Does he hope to spend another 9 years at his new club? Maybe he will, but will he ever achieve what he did at Arsenal?
I doubt it.
My memories of van Persie:
Sublime skills
Almost yearly injuries
The manner in which he left
In my mind, he was a talented player but we couldn’t count on him because of the number of injuries he had. Even had he not left the way he did, I am unwilling to believe that he would have stayed healthy enough to win us the league.
Nitram Great analysis Re RVP.
People have short memories. Infact we couldn’t win a single trophy with Cesc and RVP which the Wobs love and see as soon as those 2 left we won 3 FA cups in 4 years. KARMA.
An sure that the Man Utd fans will remember RVP fondly as the man who helped them win their last EPL title ! So what if they had to pay a total of 75 Million Pounds for his services !
As for Sanchez , they got him on free mutual transfer , but are they happy with what they are paying him for not playing ?
Stan The Man
“For me, van Persie left too soon. The difference between Arsenal and the title-winning Man U was van Persie. He made all the difference. If he had stayed one more year, we would most probably have won the league that year.”
Rosicky@Arsenal
“People have short memories. Infact we couldn’t win a single trophy with Cesc and RVP which the Wobs love and see as soon as those 2 left we won 3 FA cups in 4 years. KARMA.”
2 good posters with 2 completely different views. But which one is right?
Personally I find it difficult to see how you can justify the view that had we kept him we would of won the League. As Rosicky said we hadn’t managed to win it the prrevious 6 seasons he was with us, so why that one?
In fact after his first season the best we did was 3rd. Not only that, we finished 15 points behind United in 2012/13. I really cant see how the notion that keeping RVP would of turned that gulf around, can be justified.
And of course as Brickfields says they didn’t really pay just £22.5 Million did they? Taking into account his contract it was much much more than that.
So again I ask ‘one of the best pieces of business Fergie ever did’ ? Really?
As I say, it’s arguable United are still paying the price for that one transfer to this day.
Rosicky@Arsenal
“Nitram Great analysis Re RVP.”
Thanks.
Not only are those lovely words from RVP but you can tell they are heartfelt. Even so that doesn’t change the fact I feel given how Wenger had stood by him through some very difficult times, including an incident he didn’t even mention (so nor will I), I think he let him down badly.
Yes I understand he wanted to win the title and given our previous 6 seasons of 3rd and 4th placed finishes, allied to the fact we were in our austerity years, compared to Uniteds 4 titles and 2 seconds over the same period, and their enormous spending power, it was understandable, on a professional level.
NB: The above reinforces the point that simply keeping RVP was highly unlikely to of won us the title, or indeed prevent United from doing so. They finished 11 points clear of City in 2nd and 14 points clear of Chelsea in 3rd,
But, and in this particular case it’s a big but, on a human level I feel he owed Wenger.
During his tenure at Arsenal Wenger sacrificed a career of endless titles, here or abroad, to build us a stadium and a club for the future. We also know how Wenger, sometimes to a fault, stuck by his young prodigies, despite what must of been enormous pressure to dump them.
I distinctly remember how he was critisised by the usual suspects for sticking by players such as RVP, Ramsey, Eduardo and Diaby when they were having a bad time following injury. The same usual suspects that moaned about the loss of RVP and are now moaning about the loss of Ramsey.
My point is, sometimes in life there are things bigger and more important than mere trinkets, and Wengers heart and loyalty always trumped his desire fore mere trinkets.
A bit of payback from RVP would of been the ‘right’ thing to do. Alas he chose trinkets.
One more thing. If RVP does suddenly fall in line with BT’s usual anti Wenger line it will show beyond doubt he is working to instruction, and it will prove once and for all it is actual ‘policy’ at BT to criticise Wenger.
As I say, we shall see.
I’d give Arsene Wenger huge credit for RVPs development-without Arsene I doubt whether Van Persie would have got anywhere near the standard he did- that was genius-but I would give him no credit at all for selling him to United.
I feel the club should never have sold RVP to Man U- quite why we did still rankles..RVP was the best striker in the EPL at the time- by some margin and his sale gave United a huge confidence boost and he won Man U the league. the next season and it was entirely predictable. There were other clubs interested at the time- but Arsene who had the final say on all transfers in or out at the time, put the wishes of the player and a few extra million pounds above all other considerations. RVP was not able to be replaced and his departure signalled a further decline- In fact it was extremely bad business for the club.
goonergerry
Is that a serious post? Please tell me it’s a joke.
“he won Man U the league.”
That is a massive presumption. As I said without him United won the league 4 out of the previous 6 seasons and came 2nd the other 2.
“… his sale gave United a huge confidence boost”
Are you suggesting that after 4 titles and 2 x 2nd’s United needed a confidence boost? Seriously?
“RVP was not able to be replaced and his departure signalled a further decline- In fact it was extremely bad business for the club.”
How on earth do you justify that?
During RVP’s time at Arsenal we had 3 x 3rds and 3 x 4ths and won nothing. In the first 4 seasons after his departure we came 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 5th as well as winning 3 FA Cups.
How the hell is that a decline?
On the other hand United certainly did decline.
Yes they did win the PL in his first season, which they may well of done anyway given the previous 6 seasons, but after that it was all down hill. Not only for RVP himself but for United in general.
As I said, in the 6 seasons prior to his arrival they had 4 x 1st’s and 2 x 2nd’s, in the 4 seasons following that initial season they finished 7th 4th 5th and 6th. Now that is a decline !
Honestly, the lengths people will go to just to have a pop at Wenger.
Goonergerry
I’m still waiting for you to explain how winning 3 Fa cups in the first 4 seasons after Van Persies departure is a ‘decline’.