Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Gunners Taking Right Steps to Win Back Robin Van Persie

If the latest transfer rumors hold up, Arsenal will be unrecognizable next season with or without Robin van Persie.

And that’s exactly why the superstar striker is more likely than ever to commit to the club long-term.

With two star forwards in Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski signed early in the transfer window and two star midfielders on their way, Van Persie can no longer doubt that Arsene Wenger is all-in to win now.

Wayne Veysey of Goal.com reported that, with Santi Cazorla and Nuri Sahin potentially Holloway-bound, the odds that Van Persie changes his tune about a contract extension are much greater than they were in early July. And they should be. If winning truly is Van Persie’s No. 1 priority, than it’ll be impossible for him not to second-guess his decision to announce an inevitable departure from London.

Last season, Arsenal finished third in the Barclays Premier League standings behind Manchester United and Manchester City. While the Gunners finished with a record of 21-7, they weren’t nearly dominant enough to compete for the crown.

When they signed Van Persie back in 2004, Arsenal was coming off of an EPL title and they had won the league two out of the previous three years. RVP probably believed that, joining such a talented football team, he’d win multiple trophies of his own there.

That hasn’t happened, and at 28 years old, he’s running out of time. Sure, it would be easier for him to just hop on a juggernaut like Man Utd for more money and a better shot at a title, but don’t count out the Gunners just yet.

Van Persie wasn’t seen as anything special when he signed with Arsenal. Wenger helped transform him into one of the most talented scorers in the world. Who knows if he would’ve even blown up without him?

Now that the Gunners are returning to the form that they were at when Van Persie joined them, loyalty may just be able to win out over the love of money.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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