Arsenal should cut van Persie ties

With Robin van Persie unwilling to sign a new contract with Arsenal, the club would be foolish to hold onto their captain. Following last season’s lengthy transfer saga’s involving both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, keeping van Persie on the books would be the wrong approach from manager Arsene Wenger.

The Dutchman hasn’t openly admitted he wants to leave this summer, but his refusal to sign a new deal all but confirms his intention to leave the Gunners. At 28-years-old, van Persie, for a player of his calibre, is unfortunate not to have picked up more accolades in his career.

His desire to win trophies is likely to have convinced him to refuse a new contract with Arsenal. As it stands, Manchester City, Manchester United, AC Milan and Juventus are all thought to have moved for the Dutchman and it would be unwise for the Gunners to hold onto the front-man.

Should they wait another 12 months, van Persie would be free to talk to any club across Europe and Arsenal run the risk of losing him on a Bosman. If they were to sell this summer, they can command a fee of at least £20m and use the funds to bring in a player of similar capabilities to the striker.

Furthermore, the uncertainty surrounding his future could possibly cause upset in the dressing room. With team-mates unsure as to whether he is leaving or staying, it could cause unrest between the player’s, something manager Arsene Wenger would be keen to avoid. Nevertheless, if the right offer comes in for him, the Gunners should consider selling van Persie sooner rather than later, as the longer it pans out, the more adverse the effect could be on the squad.