Published: 7 June, 2012
by STEVE BARNETT

ARSENAL fans can expect another drawn-out summer saga after chief executive Ivan Gazidis insisted the club will not be rushed into making an announcement on Robin van Persie’s future.

Van Persie, who is currently on Euro 2012 duty with the Netherlands, could walk away from the club for nothing next year if a new deal is not agreed this summer, raising the prospect of a sale to one of Europe’s big-spending heavyweights.

With 37 goals to his name last season there is little surprise that the Gunners’ captain has been the subject of much speculation, leaving Arsenal fans desperate for some kind of reassurance regarding his future.

But Gazidis is refusing to shed any light on the matter. “Robin is clearly focused on the Euros at the moment and we wish him well, and at the right time we will make the right announcements,” he told Arsenal’s official club website.

“Robin sat down with us at the end of the season and we had a good discussion. What we agreed at that meeting was that we would keep all the discussions we had over the summer to ourselves and make announcements when it is the right time.”

According to the rumour mill one of the key factors behind van Persie’s decision to stay or go rests on whether or not those behind the scenes at Arsenal can convince him that the club will be challenging for honours next season.

Gazidis insists the club aims to ensure that it will be.

“My message to our fans is that we are doing everything in our power to make sure that Arsenal can challenge for trophies next year. That is what this summer is about and that is what we are focused on.

“We have a good team, we have a good young core of players and we need everybody involved to have belief so that we can push forward into next year and make a run at the Premier League trophy and for the Champions League.

“We believe we can do that.”