Robin Van Persie Transfer News: Will Euro 2012 Have Any Influence on Future?

Every day that passes where Robin van Persie isn't secured for next season increases the likelihood that the star striker will not be playing at the Emirates next season—especially with Euro 2012 rapidly approaching for the Dutch striker.

It's not what any Arsenal fan wants to hear or read but the harsh reality is that van Persie—the club's star striker and best player—may very not call himself a Gunner much longer.

His reluctance to commit to Arsenal full-time was the start of the saga that at first didn't seem like it would be a big deal. I mean, it's Robin van Persie—current Premier League Golden Boot winner and one of the top strikers in the league; there's simply no way that the Gunners would be letting him go.

Losing van Persie wouldn't be one or two steps back, it would seem like an entire marathon, simply because the Gunners don't have the personnel to replace him adequately up front. There isn't a player in the Arsenal squad as capable as he is so they have to keep him.

Don't they?

Well, that's what we all thought, but with every passing day, it does appear less and less likely that he will indeed remain at the Emirates, with cashed-up Manchester City the favorite to pick up the Dutchman should negotiations fall through at Arsenal.

With no new information coming forward, van Persie very easily enter Euro 2012 still not under contract for next season. It's more than likely really, as the tournament is set to commence later this week and negotiations between van Persie and club officials are moving slower than Gareth Barry.

The logical assumption that many have come to then is that van Persie is playing for his future throughout Euro 2012 and that his performances on the pitch will severely alter the likelihood of him remaining or leaving Arsenal during the summer transfer window.

Rubbish.

Other than a severe injury, van Persie's on-field performances in Poland and Ukraine over the next few weeks will have very little bearing on whether or not he remains a Gunner next season.

Let's suppose that the Dutch striker has a brilliant tournament and leads Holland all the way to victory. He is fast, clinical and picks up a stack of goals that sees him crowned the best player of the entire tournament.

Or let's suggest that he doesn't perform, he isn't dominant up front and doesn't score goals. Holland don't win the tournament and he's right back where he started, left to mull over what his future holds for next season.

However van Persie performs at Euro 2012 will not affect his playing future because teams know the ability and skill that he has, regardless of whether he displays it throughout the three weeks. 

If he does, it simply confirms what they've known all along—that's he's one of the top strikers in the world—and if he doesn't, they still know that he's one of the top strikers in the world because they've seen it all season.

Three or four poor performances isn't going to deter teams from van Persie for they know just how good he is and just what he is capable of up front. Sure, they would have liked to see him star at Euro 2012, but they know that he isn't about to embark on a Fernando Torres-esque drought because he's good enough to find the back of the net.

30 goals and nine assists in the Premier League this season isn't undone by a few mediocre performances at Euro 2012; it simply shows that he's human like every other footballer on the planet.

Arsenal aren't going to stop trying to sign van Persie should he have an average campaign and the same goes for Manchester City and Juventus and all the other teams interested in his signature.

He may well end up leaving the Emirates sometime in the transfer window, but it won't be because of what happens over the next few weeks. The Gunners will continue to try and sure up his services for next season and they must do whatever it takes to keep him in their squad.

Regardless of what happens at Euro.

Will Euro 2012 have an influence on the Van Persie situation?

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