Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Robin Van Persie's Doubts Dangerous for Gunners

Arsenal's prospects for an immediate return to silverware solicitation remain tenuous after talks between the club and star striker Robin van Persie allegedly came to a stalemate on Wednesday.

According to ESPN Soccernet, van Persie expressed doubts about the Gunners' ability to compete for trophies amidst an atmosphere, in the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League alike, in which lavish spending has become both normal and necessary amongst title winners.

The Gunners, meanwhile, have remained largely stagnant in their wage in the seven years since they lost won silverware, though they appear prepared to break the mold to keep their star content. Manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis have reportedly offered van Persie weekly wages of £130,000 to convince RVP to stay with the club that he's been a part since he was 20.

If van Persie refuses, Wenger and Gazidis may well force him to honor the final year of his current deal and send him on his way next summer.

Arsenal may have no choice but to sell van Persie anyway should he decide to seek employment elsewhere. The Gunners' hopes for bringing titles back to North London would be no better off with an emotionally divested RVP, who has a reputation for moodiness and malfeasance that has followed him between club and country. 

Then again, Arsenal won't be up for anything other than stagnation in the standings should they be forced to sell off their skipper for the second time in as many summers. Last year, it was Cesc Fabregas who exchanged his Arsenal armband for a supporting role with Barcelona, highlighting an exodus that also saw Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy bolt for trophies at Manchester City.

Van Persie may be the next to follow suit up to the Etihad Stadium. City's wage offerings would likely far outstrip anything that Arsenal could put forth. The same goes for Juventus and Barcelona, who've also been mentioned in connection with RVP as well.

Where the talks between RVP and Arsenal go from here is anyone's best guess. Perhaps he agrees to stay at the Emirates Stadium on the condition that Le Professeur is allowed to/does dispense massive contracts to world-class players as frequently as the managers at those other clubs that would have the Dutchman. Perhaps he's already too far gone and demands a move to a trophy winner, fearful that the few years of top-quality football left in his legs will be wasted on a side that isn't "serious" about silverware.

Or, perhaps he renews his oath of fealty to Arsenal, with whom he finally realized his enormous potential after seasons riddled with injuries and inconsistency.

Whichever path van Persie traverses will likely determine the Gunners' fate, at home and abroad, for years to come.

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