Wenger: City flop, not RVP, gave Utd title

ARSENE WENGER says Manchester City’s flop NOT Robin van Persie’s brilliance handed Manchester United the title.

Many believe Van Persie’s decision to join United instead of City from Arsenal last summer was the key to the Old Trafford club winning their 20th top-flight championship.

But Gunners boss Wenger said: “No. The difference is that City have dropped off.

“Robin has made an impact, of course.

“But the other teams are not as close this year — like Man City, who were always top last year. It was very tight last year. This year it was one-way traffic.”

And Wenger claims United would have snatched the title last season, too, if City’s final-day opponents QPR had not learned they were safe from relegation before conceding the dramatic Sergio Aguero goal.

Wenger said: “United lost only on goal difference and if QPR did not know that they were safe, they would have won.

“QPR knew they were safe in added time. When you know you are safe, you only fight for it for so long.”

The Gunners will form a guard of honour for former hero Van Persie and his United team-mates. But for Wenger, today’s match is a chance to show they are not as inferior to United as the 21-point gap suggests.

It follows a similar claim by City boss Roberto Mancini that his squad were on a par with United, man-for-man — despite the evidence of the table.

Wenger said: “Man City are a very good side who can compete with Man United.

“They dropped some points that were unexpected. Mancini is right and we saw that again when they beat Man United.

“This game is based on collective expression so it’s difficult to compare man for man.

“We are 21 points behind. That is linked to our bad start.

“Against the big clubs we didn’t do well.

“In Germany, Borussia Dortmund are 20 points behind Bayern Munich and they just beat Real Madrid 4-1.

“The same people that say we are 20 points behind United, may say Dortmund are the best team in Europe.

“And we beat Bayern Munich on top of that.”

Wenger wants the Emirates crowd to show Van Persie respect today and insists money was not a factor in the Dutchman’s decision to leave.

And he claims Van Persie did not turn down a better financial offer from City to join United.

Wenger said: “He would not have made more money at City.”