Arsene Wenger proved Robin van Persie Man United theory wrong with three Arsenal players

Jack Wilshere has opened up on Arsene Wenger allowing Robin van Persie to leave during his time at Arsenal. The Netherlands international left Emirates Stadium in 2012 to join Manchester United where he went on to win the Premier League title, a trophy that alluded him during his eight years at the Gunners.

Despite scoring 132 goals for Arsenal, Van Persie won an FA Cup and Community Shield as the only two major trophies in north London. Towards the end of his tenure at the club, Arsenal were parting ways with a number of key stars which left Wilshere, a teenage prodigy at the time, fearing Van Persie would be next.

“I was surprised that Wenger let Robin van Persie go,” Wilshere admitted on Simon Jordan's Up Front podcast with William Hill. “I was disappointed but, being completely honest, that is probably the trajectory that Arsenal were on at the time. We’d lost [Samir] [Emmanuel] Nasri, Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas – Robin knew that we weren’t going to challenge for the Premier League title for a few years.

“The reaction from the Arsenal fans to Van Persie leaving was quite visceral and rightly so. It was understandable. It hurt and there were definitely conversations between players about what was actually going on at the club.

«I think the hurt surrounding Robin’s departure was more of a personal one, because we knew him so well. He was the captain, he was a good leader and he set high standards.”

Amid the potential of things turning sour for Wenger with his position at Arsenal in jeopardy if results dipped, three new players arrived which drastically changed the feeling at Arsenal, according to Wilshere.

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