Graham: Arsenal can't keep Van Persie

Posted Saturday, July 21, 2012 by ESPN

Former Arsenal manager George Graham believes that the north London club should admit that they do not have the financial wherewithal to keep captain Robin van Persie.

News filtered in on Friday that Van Persie would not be part of the Arsenal squad that will tour Asia in the coming weeks. Later, BBC Sport also confirmed that bids had been submitted for the Dutchman by the likes of Juventus, Manchester United and Manchester City.

Earlier in the summer, the north London club had failed in their bid to tie down last season's leading goalscorer and as he enters the final year of his contract, it is believed that they would consider selling off the player instead of losing him on a free transfer.

Sources close to the club have revealed that Arsenal are holding out for a transfer fee close to £25 million instead of the £15m offers that they have said to have received from the aforementioned clubs.

But Graham, who coached the side from 1986 to 1995 and led the Gunners to two league titles and an FA Cup victory in 1993, believes that the club should not be hypocritical in their dealings with the clubs. He stated that the whole world knows that Arsenal do not have the finances to offer the Dutch international the contract he craves nor can they compete financially against the other rich European clubs.

"You have to sell van Persie and move on, and Arsenal need to tell everybody that they can't compete on the financial aspect, that they can't compete with Chelsea, Manchester City, even Manchester United," the ex-Arsenal midfielder told ESPN.

"If the club have to sell their top player, they also have to tell their fans it has to be done this way.

"Last year it dragged on with (Cesc) Fabregas and players were brought in late and Arsenal had a bad start, culminating with an eight-goal hammering at Old Trafford."

He also sympathises with Van Persie and pointed out that the club's lack of silverware since their 2005 FA Cup win is ample justification for the ex-Feyenoord striker's decision.

"He has made his statement, he has said the club lack ambition so the club need to get the best offer they can and move on.

"Van Persie has another year left on his contact and Arsenal tried to negotiate.

"He knows he can get a better offer elsewhere but it's not just about an offer, it is about winning trophies and Arsenal haven't won a trophy for five or six years and that comes into the equation, whether the club are ambitious enough."

Arsenal are expected to receive further offers for the player and are said to be interested in securing Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente as a replacement should Van Persie choose to leave the club in the coming weeks.