Former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie. Picture: Ronnie Macdonald

Published: 16 August, 2012
by RICHARD OSLEY

ROBIN van Persie checked out of Arsenal last night after the club agreed to sell him to rivals Manchester United.

The 29-year-old will end an eight-year spell with the Gunners when he is unveiled as Sir Alex Ferguson’s showpiece summer signing today (Thursday).

The clubs both posted messages on their websites to confirm that a deal – potentially worth £23million – had been agreed.

Van Persie will confirm personal terms with United and have a medical this morning.

He told fans earlier in the summer that he would not sign a new contract with Arsenal because he disagreed with the management about how the club should move forward.

In a message on his website, van Persie had told them: “I love the club and the fans, no matter what happens.”

But Arsenal supporters wanted that professed love to mean that van Persie would seek a move to one of the glamour clubs in Spain or Italy.

By choosing United – following the same path famously taken by another striker, Frank Stapleton, at the start of 1980s – there is little chance of much affection being retained among regulars at Emirates Stadium.

Last night, fan reaction was divided by anger that van Persie had decided to engineer a move away from the club with the threat of leaving for free next summer, and praise for Arsenal’s robust efforts to prise the largest fee out of Sir Alex.

The familiar line among the support is that United are taking a risk on a player whose career has been plagued by so many injuries that a year shy of his 30th birthday he has only managed one season in which he has made more than 30 appearances.

Even during his rich scoring spells, there was always the fear among Gunners fans that van Persie was one kick away from a long injury.

These absences meant van Persie, despite a portfolio of breathtaking goals, never really achieved the cult supporter status reached by his compatriot Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, or even Cesc Fabregas.

After bad performances and trophyless seasons, Wenger is famously loyal to his players. He has not always enjoyed the same treatment back.

Despite the anger and the claims of great business, Arsenal fans cannot ignore the fact van Persie was vital in securing Champions League football in the club’s dogfight with Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle to win fourth place.

He became imperious after Christmas and played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s famous comeback against Tottenham in a 5-2 win. That result is linked to the reversal of fortunes for both Arsenal and Spurs.

Wenger had publicly said he did not want to lose his “best player” but new signings will soften the blow. Lukas  Podolski is no stranger to the net and scored twice in a pre-season friendly on Sunday. Attacking options are also boosted by Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud.

More worrying for the Gunners than the loss of van Persie, is the trend and precedent it sets. Alex Song’s future is still unresolved, for example, and Arsenal need to shed the reputation as being a club that sells its finest players.

• Spurs were also set to lose a star last night with reports that Luca Modric was in Spain to confirm a move to Real Madrid. The deal could be worth £27.5m.