Arsenal officials are still optimistic about a possible change of heart for their star striker Robin Van Persie after the Dutchman declined to sign a new contract with the club.
The club along with their manager Arsene Wenger held a closed door meeting with the 28 year old earlier this month but failed to convince the striker of their intentions to compete for silverware next season. The prolific striker moved to release a statement in his personal website announcing his decision to not resign with the club.
The Golden Boot winner of the last edition of Premier League has a year left on his contract and is set to leave the Emirates this summer unless Wenger manages to persuade Van Persie to stay when he joins up for training next week. According to Daily Mail, a well placed Arsenal insider has claimed that the club is still ‘very hopeful’ of securing the long term services of their talismanic captain.
Arsenal chief scout Giles Grimandi had suggested earlier this week that new signing Olivier Giroud was brought in as Van Persie’s replacement. He said, “Was the recruitment of Giroud made to compensate for his Van Persie’s departure? Yes, we worked to avoid being cornered.
“We want him to stay home but he is left with one year on his contract so it is complicated. “
The Dutchman who has spent eight years at the London club was offered a contract worth £130k a week and a loyalty bonus of £5m.