Arsenal Can’t Afford to Lose Robin Van Persie: A Fan’s Reaction

Posted Wednesday, February 22, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

This past week has been a jaw-dropping bad one for Arsenal fans. In the span of four days, the Gunners have lost to AC Milan 4-0, giving Arsenal little chance of progressing to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. And on Saturday, Feb. 18, Sunderland defeated the Gunners 2-0.

It's almost certain that Arsene Wenger's squad will end a seventh successive season without a major trophy after the Sunderland trouncing.
Arsenal needs to make some big, fan dividing choices before the wheels totally come off this season. According to the Sunday Mirror, among the Gunners' hierarchy, they have acknowledged the fact that there must be a major change of direction with regards to their cost-cutting recruitment strategy.

Manchester City has schooled Arsenal in the detriment in recent times of luring young talent with rewarding contracts. Why has it taken the Wenger and the Arsenal owners so long to come around to this palpable conclusion?

Giving Wenger the ability to spend big on transfers and improve the wages of his best players, with Robin van Persie, Arsenal's most clutch striker, likely to be the first beneficiary. Robin van Persie has only one year left on his current deal. The board will now urge Wenger to spend the cash on top transfer targets.

Some are starting to think and be vocal about the fact that this is the worst Arsenal team in the history of the organization—harsh, yes, but some are starting to whisper it. And from watching the last two outings by the Gunners, you can't really argue with that growing feeling.

It's time for Arsenal to make some dramatic compensation decisions. It could rebuild from the ground up by trading van Persie, but that will have fans throwing there tickets for remaining matches down the toilet. Wenger is a little advanced in age to head a rebuilding project. The alternative is too keep van Persie and build around him by cutting into Arsenal's £57 million transfer kitty—something the squad should have done a long time ago. On a short term view, van Persie, more than any other Arsenal, puts behinds in seats at Emirates Stadium.

Remaining as optimistic as he can, Wenger thinks a top-four finish will be the equivalent of winning a trophy this season. Being in fourth place in the Premier League is a success, but it feels like holding on to it seems like a mid-season struggle for the Gunners that is about to come to an end. No matter how much cash Arsenal spends, it won't be able to salvage a season that has seen its share of mounting struggles