Robin Van Persie has been crocked for huge chunks of the season, yet that hasn’t stopped him calling for Arsenal to up the ante as far as player wages are concerned. The Dutchman is a leetle bit concerned that the club’s salary structure will stop them retaining the services of Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas in the long-term, despite landing the signature of Samir Nasri in the past couple of days. The Guardian report RVP’s collective wage demands.
“They should make sure that these players stay,” said Van Persie, aware that the club operate a strict salary structure. “Arsenal have a policy in which they will not go over a specific amount of money when agreeing the salary of a player. They won’t pay enormous amounts of money. I think that they should go to a higher level of salary.
“If you want to keep the group together, you have to keep them happy. If you are 27 or 28 I can understand that you would make the decision to go elsewhere if you can earn three or four times as much. If that sort of money was also paid at Arsenal I’m sure that person would stay.”
“It is the principle,” said Van Persie. “It is very important that Arsenal keep these guys. This group is unique. If a number of them leave it will be different. I think of myself as an Arsenal man but Arsenal should also try to make sure that we all grow together.”
Should Arsenal really try to match their European counterparts as far as wages are concerned? It’s clear that the North London club like to ensure that they balance the books and don’t operate at the sort of loss you might find at Stamford Bridge or the San Siro. They also don’t want to ‘do a Chelsea’ and have a rich oligarch pumping money into the club willy-nilly. Therefore, does RVP have a point with the above comments or should he let his football do the talking?