Friday, August 17, 2012

Et Tu RvP

I'm emotionally in a fragile state right now. After knowing that the captain that steered the Arsenal ship from the brink of relegation to Champions League football last season, has joined the most bitter of all rivals, Manchester United.

After loosing key players in each and every summer, I was hoping Arsenal's summer would be somehow be peaceful and stable. After all, snagging both Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud of less than half a price of a Fernando Torres is actually good business. Unfortunately, we were dead wrong. A week after the purchase of Giroud, Robin van Persie dropped the bomb, he is not going to sign a contract extension.

Sighting that the club did not match his ambition was beyond belief! Arsenal made a gamble on signing this trouble maker from Feyenoord for a meager 
£2.7 million. He was accused of rape and was imprisoned for 6 weeks. He had a string of bad injuries that plagued his Arsenal career. Through it all Arsenal was there. I began to question his ambition? Trophies? Now with Podolski and Giroud on board, plus 1 or 2 more signings, Arsenal can win trophies! Money? The club can only offer a maximum of £130,00/week.

 The BBC reported that RvP wanted to stay. But Arsene Wenger had a plan B, and he was not part of it. The club had no choice but to sell him while he was still under contract with Arsenal. And there were three suitors for RvP's services: Juventus, Manchester City, and Manchester United.

I first thought Manchester United would be a farfetch destination for him, but I was wrong. If Graham Hunter is to believe, RvP was already in talks with Manchester United 7 months ago! He told Cesc Fabregas that he'll be staying for another year, and see if he can win trophies with the club. Unfortunately, Arsenal only managed to cling on third place in the league, and bowed out (but with a fight) on cup games.

It was a perfect betrayal to Gooners, similar to the unsuspecting Julius Caesar at the Ides of March. When the captaincy was entrusted by Wenger, he acted as if he was indeed the captain of Arsenal. He led the team by scoring the goals, gave pre-game pep talk, he organized parties off the pitch. But he was and is a linchpin. Just like the wankers who left for money before him like Ashley Cole, Emanuel Adebayor, and Samir Nasri. "Et tu, Brutus!" was the last word Caesar said to 
Marcus Junius Brutus. Like Caesar, we Gooners were appalled by such treachery, "Et tu, RvP!", we exclaimed.

For 
£24 million, he has sold his soul to the Devil, and forever tarnished his Arsenal legacy not just as the club's 8th all-time leading goal scorer, but also as the leader of the club with most come-from-behind wins in a season. Gone were my memories of your early Arsenal career, Robin! That equalizer vs. Southhampton. That Volley at the Valley vs Charlton. Your brace vs. Blackburn in the semis of the FA Cup. For volunteering to take Edu's penalty in the final vs. your new team!

Like a jilted lover, I wish you nothing but misery in your new team! Arsenal will be a better team without you! Victoria Concordia Crescit. Victory through harmony on to the new club football season.

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