Arsenal Transfer News: Yann M'Vila's Choice Won't Be Biggest of Week for Gunners

Arsenal's immediate future as a top-tier club in the English Premier League hangs in the balance this week, though the success or failure of it all will likely be decided well before Yann M'Vila announces his intentions.

According to Gunners blogger Jamie Dalton, the Rennes midfielder will decide whether he'll leave Brittany for North London following Sunday's match against Dijon:

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Yann M'Vila tells RMC Radio in France he will make his decision on his future after Sunday's game with Dijon.

— Jamie Dalton (@JamieDalton82) May 15, 2012"

In the meantime, Arsenal will be far more concerned with keeping one of their own, Robin van Persie from jumping ship. Reports in the British tabloids this week have linked the Dutch talisman to Manchester City, who already sport three former Gunners (Kolo Toure, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy) on the squad and another (Emmanuel Adebayor) out on loan.

RVP will meet with Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis on Wednesday (per David Ornstein of The BBC) to discuss the future. The Gunners are rumored to be willing to break their wage structure to appease van Persie, the PFA Player of the Year and the leading goalscorer in the Premiership this season.

Whether they're actually willing to do so, or even to van Persie's liking, remains to be seen. If he decides to sign a new contract, Arsenal will head into the rest of the summer with a sense of stability that eluded them last year when Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri forged divergent paths out of the Emirates Stadium and left Le Professeur scrambling to reinforce his squad as the transfer window slammed shut.

The Gunners then began the campaign by winning one of their first five EPL fixtures amidst the ensuing turnover and tumult. A better beginning may not have put Arsenal in position to contend for the league title at season's end, though it certainly wouldn't have removed them from the conversation as early.

With RVP back, Jack Wilshere healed and M'Vila potentially joining Lukas Podolski amongst the latest crop of new boys, the Gunners will likely start the season among a handful of favorites to compete for silverware in England and the UEFA Champions League.

Without him, it won't matter much whether or not M'Vila decides to sign for Arsenal or if Wilshere's ankle is finally ready for football. Chicken Little will be ready to take out a lease on a swanky spot in North London if van Persie isn't in an Arsenal shirt after this week.

The arrival of Yann M'Vila would hardly change that.

Follow @Josh_E_Martin