Robin set to agree record £32 million deal, but it won’t be about the money
May 15, 2012
You don’t get a lot of time to just sit and enjoy the buzz, do you?
I’ve still got remnants of adrenaline swishing through my body from Sunday’s efforts and yet I wake up this morning to tabloid tales of transfer woe and the latest imminent Arsenal crisis. Oh well. That’s football. Better deal with it I suppose.
Tomorrow morning Robin Van Persie is apparently going over to Arsene Wenger’s house for tea, English muffins and crunch talks over his future at the club. The BBC even seems to know his exact time of arrival: 10.30 BST. BST no less! In case we thought they might be still giving out times in GMT and expecting us to add the hour ourselves. Heaven forbid we wouldn’t be 100% sure of the exact moment of his arrival.
According to various sources we also know exactly what Arsenal intend to offer Robin as an incentive to stay at the club. A signing on fee of £5 million and a club record salary of £130,000 a week. That’s £27 million over the four years plus the signing on fee takes it to £32 million. Not a bad little deal I would say. And seeing as we in the public already know so much about the deal you would have thought there isn’t a great amount left to discuss. I imagine that by 12.38 BST we should see the two parties emerge from Arsene Wenger’s front porch clutching the negotiated treaty, smiling and waving at their grateful public. Or not.
Most news outlets aren’t too confident of a deal being done tomorrow and Robin heads off to training with the Netherlands side on Thursday so there are fears that he won’t make a decision before the Euros which would mean yet another typical Arsenal summer of fear and loathing, of having to make plans when we don’t know if our best player is staying or going, of waking up every day to tabloid tattle of tapping up from City, Madrid, Barcelona and all the other usual suspects.
Want to know my opinion? Why not? It’s my blog, right? That’s what I’m here to offer. I think he’ll stay. I’m delighted that we’re sitting down with him so early in the summer because it allows both parties to have an honest discussion about what they want and how they intend to get it. There’s will there on both sides to make a deal, I’m sure of that. Arsenal know that they’ve waited long enough to get an injury free Robin Van Persie on the top of his game banging in the goals at the highest level. They wouldn’t want to sell him now. Robin Van Persie knows that we all know that he’s an Arsenal fan at heart. Yes the money is important to him. And yes he could probably get more elsewhere.
But what Robin cares about is winning trophies in his career and the big discussion point over this morning’s breakfast meeting will be whether or not he can achieve his dreams at Arsenal. I hope and expect for Robin to demand to know Arsene Wenger’s exact transfer plans for this summer. Who’s he going to bring in? Where’s the quality that’s going to have us challenging on all fronts next season? Where’s the squad depth that’s going to keep us going through our inevitable injury glut next January?
In some ways Robin Van Persie is the most powerful man at the club at the moment. He’s in a position where he can demand that we show ambition. And if we don’t then he’ll be off. But I truly believe that the time has come for Arsenal as a club to emerge from the restraints put on us by the stadium move and a self-imposed youth policy. And I believe that with the Cesc and Nasri sagas of last year still fresh in the memory we’ll do everything we can to avoid taking another monumental step backwards.
Because here’s the thing. Sell Van Persie and we need to replace Van Persie. So any money that we get for him goes straight out the door again on his replacement. But is the replacement going to be a 37 goal a season striker? Pretty unlikely I’d say. So we’re already slightly to a fair bit worse off than we were last season.
So Van Persie holds the cards. And I hope that means that he emerges from his breakfast not just with a bumper new contract, not just with croissant flakes all over his shirt but also with the guarantee that Arsenal will do what’s necessary to bring in the quality and experience that we need to challenge for the title next season.
Some people are claiming that the money on the table is too much for a player who turns 30 next year and has a history of injury problems. That his form can only go one way from here and that’s down so why sign him on an extremely expensive four year deal? I say sign him anyway. If his form dips after a couple of years sell him then. We’ll still have a couple of years on his contract and there’ll be some club, possibly Russian, prepared to take him off our hands for a handsome fee.
One man who Arsene Wenger will be hoping can help convince Robin to stay is new signing Lukas Podolski who’s been saying all the right things in his first interview with the official site:
Arsenal are a great club, here in Europe and all over the world.
At the time the transfer negotiations started between the two clubs, the decision was made really quickly. I’m now looking forward to the challenge at my new club and cannot wait to start after Euro 2012.
I had a very good season with Cologne, I played well and as a result I’m now going to Euro 2012 with lots of confidence.
After that, I will be joining up with my new team-mates at Arsenal and it is my goal just to do my best and be successful there.
For anyone still confused about exactly where Lukas will play next season…join the club. He himself doesn’t seem entirely sure. But he doesn’t care. He says he’s versatile and that’s good to hear:
In Cologne, I played as a centre forward and also as a playmaker.
In the national team I play wide on the left, I honestly don’t mind where I play, as long as it’s in a forward position. But it’s always the coach who decides where you play and I will do my best wherever I play.
Interesting to hear him talk of his role as a playmaker. In addition to the 18 goals he scored in 29 league appearances this season Podolski also provided 7 assists which means that he was involved in 25 of Koln’s goals and they only scored 39 in total.
It’s the kind of record even a certain Dutchman might be impressed by and hopefully something that he’s being reminded of as Arsene Wenger puts the kettle on tomorrow morning.
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Comments
35 Responses to “Robin set to agree record £32 million deal, but it won’t be about the money”
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The meeting is tomorrow not today isn’t it?
Its wed morning not today. Nice article though
He have served his time in Wengers chokers now let him go.
@ Sam and Mike
Absolutely right. Now corrected. Sorry!
Not sure that I agree on the loosening of the constraints to spend; it will be easier than in previous years for sure because we KNOW we are striaght into ECL without the uncertainty of the qualifiers so from a planning point of view all the cards are known. However I think that the true extent of Aresnal purchase power will not be evident until renegotiation of several key sponsorship deals which will come about next year I believe. We are coming to the end of the upfront payments from Emirates on shirt rights etc.
Even that doesn’t mean that the money will be spent thouhgh
Well let’s hope he gets his trophy fix (to show off to the Grandkids) via the Netherelands (well why not because England don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell).
So come on you Dutch.
I don’t blame him for going but i would be very disappointed if he went to another EPL team. The worst part is yet again, the late decision possibly leaving us in the lurch again.
I just pray and hope he agrees to signs a new deal
BST is a rather nasty acronym, particularly when you mention it next to words like “journalist,” “press” or “Daily Mail.” It also kind of rhymes with BBC, maybe that’s the point?
I think Robin is going to sign the new contract before he goes off. From a financial standpoint, his position can only get worse now. What if he catches a bad injury while on international duty? What if the Euros don’t pan out as he expects? He’s on a high now, it’s just the time to sign.
And it’s not like he wants to move, either. I know there are many lucrative offers for him from all around, Man City, Real, perhaps some Italians… But it really starts to look like this team is developing. Even without several players who were ruled out through injury, and with some fitness and tactical issues that Wenger was unable to resolve, Arsenal looked pretty nice this Spring. I said that before and I’m going to repeat it as often as I can: Wenger can afford not to make massive changes. It all depends on what happens with the players who are now sidelined. If Wilshere, Sagna, Arteta and Mertesacker are back in style, if Ramsey, Gervinho, Santos and Walcott really up their game as they promise to do, there’s really little Wenger has to do with this squad. We’re finally in a position to make pointed transfers, not risky stuff like we did before.
I have a feeling Podolski will play on the left wing, but when Robin needs a rest Podo could definately play up front aswell.
It really depends who else Arsenal sign, I have a feeling they will buy a defensive midfielder (most likely M’vila) and either a versatile left-back, creative midfielder or striker. it’s too difficult to guess what Wenger is planning.
Hell I’m nervous!
I hope he’s gonna sign that piece of paper. Basically we can’t afford to lose him, there’s no replacement for him. AW and Gazidis will do everything to keep him. Though if VPs mind is set on leaving there is little they can do about it. I don’t think they will run down his contract as they’ve said they will do. 30 to 40 Mio. is too much to lose.
RVP will sign am almost confident but Wenger should give him a plan. Podolski comes with loud expectations and lets hope he does not disappoint like one Devor Suker. We need someone in the center and i think the Brazilian Lucas Moura would be quality addition. i know we have moved away from signing them young and full of potential…How about turning Walcott striker next season and sending all the others away so we have RVP, Podolski and Walcott plus Campbell. If we revert to a two man striking role we can give Walcott enough chances to play. I would how ever not mind retaining Park, he may just burst into the scene so maybe a loan arrangement to settle him in the premier league. Move Song to creative Midfield and we have Song, Rosicky, Lucas and Wilshere pushing for the two spots. Ramsey goes on Loan. Get Vertoghen or YMvila and together with Arteta we have two accomplished players vying for the slots there and we have Coquelin, and Frimpong too, get Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and get rid of Djourou and Schilachi and you have real competition for the roles in defense. with this arrangement Roy Miyachi, Oxadale Chamberlain, Benik Afobe and the likes get time to grow into the first team. We have Gervinho and we can keep Banayoun just in case. I suspect this will be depth and quality squad ready to challenge for titles next year
I think he will run down his contract if he doesn’t sign
Lads let’s not forget that we have a year left. I’m willing to bet tomorrows meeting Wenger is going to tell Van Persie that we’re going to ask him to honour his contract regardless of whether he signs or not. For once we hold all the cards. There is simply no chance in hell Van Persie would ever behave in a way that risks his relationship with us the fans by pulling a Rooney. He’s also getting on in years and risks moving from a club where he’s a hero, captain and guaranteed starter to a club where he will be benched if he doesn’t score for a set amount matches and may not bed in well at all, and may actually get his injuries beck too. We do not need his transfer fee, unlike Nasri there is simply no on we could replace him with. We got the Ox and Jenkinson using Nasris money which is a bargain for that tempremental half a season star. Fabregas was chased for four years and left to go home. Van Persie is at home with us and in London.
In my heart of hearts I believe he’s doing what any captain and true fan would do in his situation he’s going to do what’s best for the club and use his position to get assurances on the clubs ambition, I don’t believe he’s going to leave. Let me ask you all if you were in a position to tell wenger and have him listen to you so you could tell him that tactically something needs to change, that we have to find a way to stop conceding so cheaply because we’re a laughing stock would you do it? Well I believe that’s what he is doing. But I really don’t think it has any bearing on whether he stays. He stays or he risks losing his status here, our love and loyalty to become potentially an injury prone benchwsrmer in another team.
If that is true then RVP will always be immortal in the goonerverse.He has the opportunity to show us that its not always a neighbour’s wife that’s good,My own wife can be the best? Thanks for the article
I hope you’re right about him staying. We should offload all the deadwood that’s been out on loan this season. The wages saved would more than cover Robin’s deal and make more sense than having our players posted out all around the world.
Great to see so much reaction to your blog by the way.
It seems to me that what RVP wants is a guarantee that Mr Wenger signs at least after Podolsky an experienced midfielder and a central defender.In my opinion we need good goalkeeper coverage and possibly a left back to cover Gibbs, who seems to be injury prone.
Given those guarantees I would at least think that RVP would sign for Arsenal
No player is bigger than the club he plays for. RVP deserves a bigger salary, but arsenal’s wage budget is not bottomless. If RVP Won’t sign a new contract sell and sell quickly. Time is needed to recruit a replacement before pre-season starts. Arsenal will still be a top club without RVP and can replace him if need be.
Lol at the croissant flakes bit.
I think Arsenal will be doing the most transfer business in and out of the club. I can see Bendtner Denilson & Chamakh all being culled this summer and big signings coming in the door. Mainly from two countries France & Germany.
I think it’s 50/50. The player is unlikely to run down his contract. He has had the season of his life and if he gets injured next season and does not do nearly as well then all of a sudden he will be 30 and the big teams will lose interest.
The timing could not be better for VP to attract bidders and move on should he wish to. It will be stay or go – no in-between.
If I was him I’d leave, as Wenger is not capable of creating an Arsenal defence good enough to ever compete for major trophies.
Without his goals,Arsenal would probably outside the top 4. I am sure of that.Having said that,no player is bigger than the club but there are exceptions ie Messi,Rooney,etc.
However the power is with the players these days and clubs must be pragmatic. No one is indispensable. If Robin were to go,why not let Walcoot play thru the middle. You never know.
But I still hope RVP will stay but Wenger must show ambition in the transfer market. No more promising players.
Guys
RVP has told wenger he will be leaving
why you dont understand where podolskis is going to play emm right where RVP us to play when he hits the road
oz gunner
Without RVP’s goals I think we’d have been nearer the bottom of the table than the top. Hopefully Gervinho will eventually come good, but sadly I don’t think Chamakh will ever make it.
Am sure he will sign a new contract as long as Wenger signs new xperienced players.
Good article, but you`re basing your valuation of RvP and his 37 goals on just this past season. Maybe you should look a little further back to get a more realistic valuation. He`s not the end-all of everything Arsenal.
I am sorry to say I think that Poldolski was bought as a direct replacement.
Robin will leave because the club has no ambition or plans on buying anyone else and will pocket a profit again. as well as keeping the Cesc and Nasri money in the bank
RVP will be on his way – guaranteed. Why should he stay? His mates left and won medals – Nasri, Fabregas, Clichy, Toure. And he will be offered far more money at Man City, Barcelona, Real Madrid…
Your’re having a larf.
RVP signs that deal and Arsenal are stuffed. Remember Arsenal have had 1 good year out of eight and this just happens to be when his contract is coming up for a possible renewal.
If he signs RVP will be back averaging 6 to 8 goals a season when he is not injured. Then the final big pay day with someone else at the end of the contract.
RVP will stay!
To him family appears important. They are settled in London and like it!
Money is not the main issue here ….. hopefully its loyalty to the club that nurtured him and gave him the opportunity to succeed!
Congratulations TMH, you’ve made it onto NewsNow. That explains the bumper number of comments. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Deromenempire.
And thanks all for the comments.
MARK MY WORDS, WORLD… RVP WILL STAY AT ARSENAL… HE IS ARSENAL FOREVER AND HE IS LOVES ARSENAL AND ONE MORE HIS FAMILIES LOVES LONDON MORE THAN MAN CITY, OR SPAIN…!!! HE WILL LEAD ARSENAL TO WIN CL AND EPL SILVERWARE FOR NEXT SEASON!!!
RVP IS NOT NA$$$$RI, CLICHY, ADEBAYOR, OR OTHER ARSENAL PLAYER WHOM LEFT ARSENAL FOR MONEY. RVP IS A DEFINITELY TOTAL FOOTBALLER ATTITUDES!!! ARSENAL CAN WIN EVERYTHING WITH RVP. HE IS TOO LOYAL TO AW AND ARSENAL. WE ARE ARSENAL FOREVER AND WE ARE PROUD OF YOU RVP!!! FINALLY, RVP, YOU ARE NEW LEGEND IN MAKING AT ARSENAL. KING OF ARSENAL!!!
V persey may leave if he wishes, Arsenal will always get an alternatives, bigger players have gone in the past, But Arsenal need to buy big players too.
Nice article!! Wit all d reactions 4rm those comments, i think i saw,”LOVE ND PASSION” deep inside their hrts. I believe dat RVP luv Arsenal fc 4rm his hrt nd, wit dat i think he will extend his contract; But no matter d outcome of their meetings i still LOVE ARSENAL FC!!!