3rd place and new faces crucial if RVP is to stay

For Arsenal fans the summer transfer window in recent years has been one of the never ending sagas about whether their prized assets should stay or leave the Emirates. And this summer is shaping up to be the same with club Captain Robin Van Perise the topic of much debate and Manchester City as known admirers.

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, spoke in Friday’s press conference of his eagerness to extend Van Persie’s current contract, which expires in 2013, before this summers European Championships. But for RVP to sign a new contract much will depend upon Arsenal qualifying for the Champions League and the guarentee of big summer signings to freshen up the squad and challenge both the red and blue of Manchester for the Premier League Title.

This week can certainly be seen as a missed opporuntity for the Gunners to cement 3rd place as Monday’s frustrating home defeat to Wigan was followed by a 0-0 draw against a weakened Chelsea on Saturday. However, despite this weeks slip up, the Gunners can certainly look at their remaining three fixtures and believe they can get the job done, and see off the charge of the rampant Magpies who have a tough run with games against Chelsea and Manchester City to come.

Arsenal also need to change tact in the transfer market this summer and show that they mean business. Recently, the summer transfer window has far too often been dominated by the departure of high profile players rather than the capturing of ones, which will turn this clearly gifted team into one which is capable of mounting a serious challenge for the title.

It is well documented that Lukas Podolski has all but put pen to paper to sign for Arsenal and if he were to it would certainly set a precedent. Podolski is also the ideal player to support Van Perise, with his strength and power which he brings to the front line, something which would certainly assist against the likes of Stoke!
Whilst finishing third and the guarantee of future sigings are important to Van Persie, he should not forget the faith which Arsenal have shown in him following his recent years spent on the sidelines plagued by injury. This season is the first season in which Van Persie has played over 30 Premier League games for Arsenal.

Van Persie is very much at the height of his career, now being 28, and whilst Arsenal should be able to guarantee him a healthy wage packet, it is the prospect of mounting serious challenges for trophies which will concern the Dutchman, who only has an FA Cup Winners medal to his name.

But if Arsenal can secure the signing of Podoloski together with another household name and a few customary “Wenger bargins”, then Arsenal fans can certainly be confident of challenging for trophies and seeing Van Persie grace the number 10 shirt next season. Rather than joining the Arsenal rejects in Manchester who were lurred by City’s money rather than adding their names to Arsenal’s folk law.

Written by Alistair Evans @IslingtonBlog

NOTE: ORIGINAL ARTICLE FROM OUR 'PARTNER' BLOG ;ISLINGTON BLOG (@Islingtonblog)
Link: http://theislingtonblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/22/3rd-place-and-new-faces-crucial-if-rvp-is-to-stay/