Arsenal Transfer News: Arsene Wenger Expects Robin Van Persie to Stay

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given his strongest indication yet that star striker, Robin van Persie, will stay on at the Emirates for the upcoming English Premier League season—stating that he expects the Gunners' captain to remain at the club.

Speaking out after the club's 4-0 thrashing of Cologne in a preseason friendly, Wenger stated that the 29-year-old is likely to remain at the Emirates—despite the less than friendly reception he received from Arsenal fans, who booed the striker when he entered the match.

According to The Sun, Wenger said:

"

There's no news on Van Persie. Our fans want him to stay, so you can understand they are excited. Anything I could say about Van Persie would be a lie because he's our best player and that's it.

Robin [van Persie] scored 30 league goals last season and you want to keep your best player. He was player of the year in England. We want to keep him. I cannot tell you more at the moment because I don't know more.

We have not bought the players to replace Van Persie, but to strengthen our squad with the thinking Van Persie will stay.

"

The quote from Wenger there—particularly the part about how he feels the club's summer transfer signings will work with RVP—comes as a great boost for the fans and players alike who still want the Dutch international at the club.

Manchester United seem the only other option to land the wantaway striker this summer, with Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill believed to be working on a deal to sign Van Persie for the upcoming season (per ESPN Soccernet).

But with Wenger's confidence in his star striker and the admission that their transfer window has not been built on protection but consolidation, it seems the Gunners could well keep hold of their £25 million-rated striker.

Which—coupled with new signings Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla—would make for one of the most fearsome attacks in the Premier League this year.

Will Arsenal hang on to Robin van Persie this year?

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