Why Arsenal's Chances of Winning Next Season Depend on Robin Van Persie Staying

"He scores when he wants."

These are the chants the Arsenal fans have been singing throughout the past season every time Robin van Persie was on the ball.

It makes sense; the Dutch striker has easily been the best striker on the planet this year. Only Mario Gomez has a similar goal-scoring tally, although it's easy to agree that RVP not only played in a much stronger league, but also with a weaker team than that of Bayern.

RVP has won the Football Writers award as well as the FA Player Of The Season award. He surpassed Thierry Henry's record of 34 league goals in a calendar year for Arsenal, and became second to Alan Shearer's league record.

It's easy to agree the RVP's record is a much stronger one because there are 38 league games nowadays, while at one point there were 44.

Not only that, but RVP equaled Henry's Arsenal record of 30 Arsenal goals in a season. With a game in hand, should van Persie score a goal he'll equal Shearer and Ronaldo's record. Should he score a brace, he'll break it.

In other words, Robin van Persie has not only established himself as an Arsenal legend, but also as an EPL legend.

His records are even more impressive because his goals are all unique and majestic. While the majority of Ronaldo and Messi's goals were similarly impressive, van Persie's goals were a wonder to behold.

But for all his efforts, the only awards the Dutch striker received were personal ones; not a single trophy was lifted at the end of the season.

A player of van Persie's caliber does not deserve to have only an FA Cup and a Community Shield to show for his efforts—he deserves more.

And while it may be hard for some to admit, the Dutchman deserves more than what Arsenal are currently giving him.

Henry scored 30 in the season Arsenal became the Invincibles, whereas RVP can break Henry's record even though Arsenal might not even finish third in the table (assuming they fail to win against West Brom).

When Shearer scored 36, he won the league with Blackburn; van Persie, however, hasn't won anything. That is a sad fact that should not have happened.

Arsenal winning anything in the upcoming season depends on RVP staying at Arsenal more than anything else.

When Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri left, it made sense because none of them loved Arsenal that much. Nasri left at the first sign of cash.

Fabregas remained silent and left at a time that damaged Arsenal this season, instead of handing a transfer request early on, giving Arsenal a chance to buy a world-class replacement.

Van Persie however, loved Arsenal, as he stated time and again, and has shown the loyalty and the quality to back his claims.

For van Persie to leave Arsenal, it means that Arsenal owner Stan Kroeneke, the board and Arsene Wenger have made the Dutch striker lose his love for this team—the team where he had the honor of playing with Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, two footballing legends.

Should van Persie leave, it means that even those who love Arsenal have stopped believing in it.

The fans would understand; it's not as if the players didn't make them hate Arsenal at times this season. The games against Man United, Blackburn and Milan were a good example of a situation that no fan of a team like Arsenal should be put in, a game where two players score own goals.

It was that bad at times.

Wenger might have bought Lukas Podolski, but having van Persie extend his contract would be the signing of the season hands-down. Signing a few world-class players (which is being too optimistic in truth) would be proof that the intent is there.

For van Persie to extend his contract, he has to see said world-class players arrive first.

Buying a few players from the French league is a meaningless habit Wenger needs to eliminate, or soon enough Arsenal will not be able to compete with Man City and Chelsea with all their spending.

To add insult to injury, Arsenal have the most expensive tickets in England, which increased by 6.5 percent at the start of the season.

If Wenger does not get rid of Manuel Almunia, Sebastien Squillaci, et. al., and have the backing of Kroeneke to buy world-class players, then even the task of qualifying to the Champions League will be out of Arsenal's reach.

Such is the price the fans may end up paying for the greed of the Arsenal owner, and the board of directors.

At this point, it's safe to say that Arsenal need van Persie more than he needs Arsenal. He has shown loyalty throughout the worst of times in the club's recent history, but if no low-quality players leave, and no world-class players arrive, then Arsenal fans cannot hold any grudges towards their captain should he leave.

Arsenal need to win the final game of the season against West Brom to qualify for the Champions League next season. They need to buy world-class players to convince van Persie that the desire for greatness is there.

Otherwise, next season might be an even worse one for the Gunners.

Fact of the day: Arsenal have not won a single league game this season that didn't feature Arteta.