4 Years After Van Persie Left Arsenal To Manchester United, Why His Decision Looks Justified

One can confidently say right now that Arsene Wenger is not in a good position. He has gone 12 years without the Premier League title, something no manager can survive in today’s age of hire and fire attitude. Wenger has been able to survive for so long on the foundations he laid for the club when he first arrived here. Last season, Arsenal fans were left frustrated after the Gunners failed to win the Premier League, even though all the other big boys struggled all season. The fact that Arsenal did not buy a single outfield player last summer did not go down well with the supporters. This summer hasnt been much different, since acquiring the services of Granit Xhaka early in the summer, Arsenal have struggled to fulfill their transfer targets.

Everyone knows that Arsenal need a world class striker, who give the team a different dimension and take some of the goalscoring burden off Giroud’s shoulder. However, failed bids for Jamie Vardy and Lacazette, have left fans fuming with anger. There is also a central defensive crisis due to the long-term injury sustained by Per Mertesacker and Gabriel. Arsenal interest in Valencia’s Shakhtar Mustafi is public knowledge but Wenger is still struggling with negotiations with the German’s club. The transfer window is about to close and with all Arsenal’s direct rivals strengthening majorly this summer, this season could finally be the year, when Arsenal fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Robin Van Persie who left Arsenal in 2012 making an extremely controversial switch to Old Trafford, was criticised openly for the manner he left the club that gave him so much. His statement four years reads like an eerie prophecy now. He spoke about how Arsenal’s lack of ambition forced him to look somewhere else. He was Arsenal’s leading goalscorer the previous season, therefore it is understandable his sentiment regarding his future at Arsenal.

Last season, there was a section of fans, who wanted Wenger to resign. However, with the support of a substantial number of fans and board, The Frenchman stayed on. This season could turn out be different if Arsenal go one more season without the trophy. Fans are starting to lose belief in Arsenal’s ambition, they have never been so vociferous against Arsene Wenger, he was supposed to be an eternal legend but his inactivity in the transfer window and repeated failure to win silverware, has left with very little space to Manoeuvre in.

It will take a mammoth effort from Wenger now if Arsenal are going to mount a proper title challenge next season and if he fails come May, it might just mean the end of Wenger’s tenure at Arsenal.