Bye Bye Robin Van Persie: Gunners Captain Agrees to United Transfer

The news that most Arsenal fans have been dreading all summer has finally arrived today, with the news that Robin van Persie has agreed to sign for Manchester United.

Reports differ in the sum total being forked out by the Manchester club. The Telegraph claims the deal will be worth £22m, whereas the official BBC Website says RVP will in fact move for £24m.

Whatever the true valuation, one thing seems almost inevitable now: the Arsenal skipper will be leaving the club for bitter rivals United within the next few days.

Many Gunners fans will see this as the ultimate betrayal to the club, leaving behind a side that has stuck with the Dutch striker through thick and thin, for one of their most historic enemies.

Only a move to the White Hart Lane could rival this move in terms of a lack of loyalty, and even then it would probably have less of an effect in pure footballing terms.

With RVP playing alongside Wayne Rooney, Manchester United will have the chance to play both of last season's breakaway top scorers in the Barclays Premier League.

This is a move that will either make United one of the greatest teams in Europe again or cost them a great deal of time and money.

Whenever a big player moves clubs in Europe, there is always the threat that they will not be able to perform for their new employers.

As recently as last season we saw this, with the once unstoppable Fernando Torres unable to take his tally for the season into double figures after his move from Liverpool to Chelsea.

Similarly, Andriy Shevchenko, after his move from Milan to Stamford Bridge, was unable to re-capture the form that had arguably made him the world's best striker at the time.

Will the same thing happen with United and RVP? Only time will tell.

It isn't all doom and gloom for Arsenal fans, though. With recent signings Lukas Podolski and Oliver Giroud, and the news that Alex Song will be more than content to stay at the Emirates, the season is far from over before it's even begun.

There will be a lot of people writing off Arsenal again this year, but don't be too surprised if this is finally the season where they end that dreadful drought in regards to silverware.

Hope always remains in football.