Arsenal’s on loan midfielder Yossi Benayoun has said that he expects striker Robin van Persie to stay at the club next season. The Dutchman has scored 35 goals in all competitions for Arsenal this season and has been a major driving force in their attempts to get into the top four. However, he has been linked with a number of clubs like Manchester City, who are looking at the possibility of signing him on a cheap transfer. His contract comes to an end at the end of next season, which will make him one of the sought-after free transfers in recent times.
Other clubs who have shown an interest in the striker include the likes of Barcelona and Juventus. If Manchester City are interested in signing Robin van Persie, then it would be hard for Arsenal to match the Manchester clubs offer. Yet, Yossi Benayoun thinks that Robin van Persie will commit his future to Arsenal after the end of the season. Only recently, the striker postponed the contract talks for a few months after stating that he wants to concentrate on the season. In a similar situation, Yossi Benayoun’s future is also in doubt. He has excelled at Arsenal this season, but it remains to be seen if Chelsea will be willing to let the player leave to a rival club.
“I’m sure he will stay for a long time. I’ve been lucky to play with some of the biggest strikers and Robin at the moment is one of the best in the world. When Fernando was on fire at Liverpool and scoring a lot of goals, for me they are on the same level. With Fernando you knew every game for Liverpool he could score, especially with a player like Steven (Gerrard) behind him,” said Benayoun.
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has said that he could have achieved a lot more in his career had he made the most out of this time at Dutch club Feyenoord. Arsenal signed Robin van Persie from Feyenoord for an extremely low transfer fee many years ago. Robin van Persie was initially criticised for his injury problems, which were too many during the initial stage of his Arsenal career. However, the departure of Arsenal legend Henry and coupled with the lack of any big names arriving at the Emirates has made it extremely suitable for Robin van Persie to establish himself as one of the main members of the Arsenal team.
Robin van Persie has also substantially increased his fitness levels over the years, which have been duly shown by the incredible number of goals the Dutchman has scored in recent seasons. None would have predicted that Robin van Persie would be alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the race for the European Golden Boot award. Only Wayne Rooney is the player alongside him from the Premier league. It shows a lot about the quality Robin van Persie provides to the Arsenal team, but the striker reckons that he could have won many more trophies in his career had he been more effective at Feyenoord.
“Some amazing things happened during my time at Feyenoord, and I have nothing but good memories. However, I could have achieved more had I got the best out of myself. I still feel that I could have done better. I could have offered more in those days, and that’s a bit of a shame. I am looking back at my time at the club very positively, though,” Van Persie said to Feyenoord Magazine. Robin van Persie’s contract with Arsenal runs out in the summer of 2013.
On his return to the club that made him a legend on a short term contract, Thierry Henry grabbed all the headlines in Arsenal’s 1-0 FA Cup win over Leeds United after coming off the bench with only 22 minutes to go to grab the winning goal and send The Gunners through to the 4th round of the oldest Cup competition in the world.
The 34 year old striker, who is currently on loan at Arsenal from his parent club the New York Red Bulls of the Major League Soccer, replaced the misfiring Marouane Chamakh on 68 minutes to a standing ovation from the Arsenal supporters and it took him just 10 minutes to make a decisive impact on the game.
It seemed as if Thierry Henry had turned back the years as he latched on to a brilliant through ball from Alexander Song to slot it in past the hapless Leeds United goalkeeper. The former French international was visibly delighted to have been able to help out Arsene Wenger and his beloved Arsenal at this moment of crisis. Speaking to them media after the match, the talismanic striker said that it was kind of weird for him as he had never dreamed of donning the Red and White of Arsenal again when he was holidaying just 15 days back.
Henry always enjoyed playing against the side from Yorkshire, and his winner made it 12 goals in 12 appearances against the Championship side. Henry, who has signed a two month loan deal with The Gunners, thanked all the players, the management and the coaching staff who gave him the opportunity to ease back into the squad as well. Arsenal are struggling in the English Premier League at the moment but if Thierry Henry can keep up his scoring touch, he will leave them in a much better position when he leaves in February.
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May 4, 2012 7:30 am | 
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