Gunners confident talisman Van Persie will sign new contract
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger is confident he can persuade club captain Robin van Persie to remain at the club and extend his current contract.
The Dutchman is currently in the best form of his career and has scored eight of his side’s 15 goals this season following the brace he notched in last week’s defeat of Stoke.
Van Persie, the only member of the current Arsenal squad to have won a trophy with the club, has 18 months left on his current deal and although official talks have yet to commence, Wenger is sure the 28-year-old will commit his long-term future to the club.
“He has 18 months to go and I’m confident he’ll sign a new deal. I’m always confident,” said Wenger, yesterday.
The Frenchman was similarly upbeat during the summer about his chances of maintaining the services of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, but the former, who threatened to walk away on a free next year, was eventually sold to Manchester City, while after a protracted saga, Fabregas eventually sealed his dream return to Barcelona.
Van Persie, who joined Arsenal for just £2.5m from Feyenoord eight years ago, was part of the side which won the FA Cup back in 2005 but has not tasted tangible success since. Premier League leaders Manchester City have already been linked with a big-money move for him.