Consider this for a headline from the Rob Draper at the Daily Mail: “Man City planning £30m raid for disillusioned Arsenal skipper Van Persie”. Firstly, I don’t doubt that Van Persie is currently considering his future and that Manchester City have the financial power to tempt him away from London, but are we really expected to believe that City would be willing to offer a figure of only £30m?
Van Persie is Arsenal’s talisman, their main source of goals and one of the best strikers in the world. He currently has an unrivalled (in the Premier League) 26 goals in 31 games and doesn’t look like stopping anytime soon. In terms of mixing technical ability with a knack for scoring goals, there’s quite simply nobody like him.
There are certain things that could drive down his price. By next summer he’ll only have a year left on his contract and the Gunners will be facing a Nasri-esque situation where the player is capable of holding a club to ransom. But let’s face facts, Robin Van Persie is nothing like Samir Nasri. Not only is he a top player, but he respects Arsenal football club too much and even if his future is elsewhere he’ll want his club to get a fair price for his sale.
Some may suggest that his injury-prone nature could have a huge affect on his overall price-tag. Yet this is a player in his prime who has played plenty of games so far this year and looks to be approaching some sort of physical peak.
The most ridiculous thing about this transfer rumour, however, is that it completely ignores this key question: Why on earth would Arsenal sell another top player to Manchester City? Arsenal selling RVP to a City would essentially amount to the waving of a white flag. It would signal the end of the club being a genuine threat and perhaps even turn the Gunners into something of a feeder club.
What’s more, City already have an impressive roster of top quality strikers and aren’t likely to need to bolster this area when the transfer window reopens. I’d argue that Robin Van Persie is a better player than Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero but given that they’re all extremely talented footballers in their own right, City have no real call to add to this part of their squad.
What we’re left with is a transfer rumour that doesn’t make too much sense and a bunch of ticked off fans. That’s good work well done!
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Personally I would like to see RVP rewarded with a new contract taking him to 33, being the highest paid player, and a massive loyalty bonus at the end.The man is Mr Arsenal.
Cobblers. Van Persie isn’t fit to polish Ageuro’s, Tevez’s, Dzeko’s, Balotelli’s or Adebayor’s boots. WHY would they but him?
Adebayor? Are you serious?
I’d take 30 mil.
‘I’d argue that Robin Van Persie is a better player than Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli AND Sergio Aguero’.
RVP is a good player no doubt but better than ALL the above three? – Absolute utter garbage.
RVP AGE 28 GAMES 309 GOALS 115 = 0.37
DZEKO AGE 25 GAMES 265 GOALS 125 = 0.47
AGUERO AGE 23 GAMES 297 GOALS 133 = 0.44
BALOTELLI AGE 21 GAMES 117 GOALS 39 = 0.33
Just because people don’t know very much about Dzeko is not a reason to assume anything about him without the real facts, he is a more prolific striker than RVP, he is younger and less injury prone than the Dutchman.
In fact, the only player with a less prolific goal ratio than RVP is 21 year old Balotelli, lets see by the time he is 28 whether he compares favourably. At the same age as Balotelli, RVP had played 112 games scoring 25 times leaving him with a conversion rate trailing Balotelli’s at 0.22. The most laughable comment – Van Persie better than Sergio Aguero? Go and ask all other supporters outside Arsenal who would they rather have at their club – Aguero or RVP? The vast majority would prefer the Argentine, not only because he is younger and has more years to reach his peak, but his record as a striker already outstrips RVP at five years his junior. Better than all three? Only the biased and misinformed would argue such a foolish point.
Better player does not mean ‘has scored more goals than’.
You also have to take into account where Dzeko has scored his goals.
Won’t argue with you about Sergio Aguero. Quality player.
None of these players are up there technically with RVP. Would be interesting to see their assists rates too, if you have that information.
What does ‘better player’ mean then when it comes to strikers? Nice hair? Nice shoes?
Yes Dzeko’s goals were scored in Germany with the unfashionable Wolfsburg taking them to their first Bundesliga title in decades. Just because you don’t know much about his career achievements to date is not a reason to ignore his qualities and reputation as a goal scorer accross Europe. RVP on the other hand has underachieved in a talented Arsenal team that have provided him with arguably better service than Dzeko has ever had to work with in Germany.
You say you wont argue about Aguero…. but then you suggest he is not as technically gifted as RVP?????
Are you just making it up as you go along?
RVP assists 46
Aguero assists 42 with 5 years to make 4 more to match the amazing RVP.
Get a grip fella, there is no comparison. RVP = OVERATED
Fuck off u dirty manc prick. Dzeko is a lanky streak of piss
At least this manc prick got an education.
don’t judge the strikers by their goals , just count the number of assist rvp has had , it’s unbelieveable. 😀
I have looked at RVP’s assists and it still does not substantiate the assertion that he is a better player than Aguero.
Ok even if we forget about goals when judging strikers (which is ridiculous by the way but nevertheless) RVP’s 46 assists in 309 games is not really that impressive when you are saying that Aguero who already has 42 assists in 297 games is an inferior player. It is a difference of a mere four assists, hardly spectacular is it?
city are in position,and given the fact that they have athe financial power and that they look no more than purchace any good players and that arsenal is good at selling the remaining of their best players,yes they can.
Feel free to make sense.
Watch a striker play, don’t just look at the statistics.