Robin Van Persie: Arsenal Must Free Itself from RVP Before Situation Gets Worse

Arsenal is on the fast track to disaster if they do not quickly unload star Robin van Persie. The inevitable and pending split of these two has been coming down the pipe for some time, and it is only going to get ugly if that process is delayed. 

RVP clearly stated it was not his intention to re-sign with the Gunners. Arsenal was quick to respond by saying van Persie would be held to his current contract, which runs through 2012-13. 

You can't really blame either side for this. RVP is looking for a team with a better chance to earn him some hardware, and Arsenal does not want to lose their main attraction, and also, they need to keep their bargaining power high. 

However, at some point, this situation is destined to become a distraction and have a negative affect on the club, and that point is quickly arriving. 

Tom Hopkinson of People, among many others, is reporting the following:

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Arsene Wenger will order Robin van Persie to travel on Arsenal's pre-season tour to Asia unless the Gunners have received a concrete offer for him by then.

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This is likely just another move to show RVP who is really in control of this situation. It is strikingly similar to the situation Arsenal went through with Samir Nasri last year. Nasri ended up being sold to Manchester City just a week before the transfer deadline—Arsenal should not wait that long to move RVP. 

Van Persie is not going to be a happy and dutiful employee on the pre-season Asian tour. His mind will be elsewhere, and it will only fuel his desire to make the switch in teams.

It is not productive to have a leader of the team around his teammates with a negative attitude about the club. This kind of thing rubs off and establishes a tone. Yes, these guys are professionals, and they should not let these things alter their approach, but they are also human, and locker room cancers always have a way of pulling everyone down to some degree. 

Van Persie is not going to re-sign, and it simply is not worth the slight increase in bargaining power Arsenal will receive by holding onto him to risk the discord in the organization. It is time for Arsenal to move on from Robin van Persie.