Thomas Vermaelen’s staying... what about Robin van Persie?

Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2011 by The Sun

ARSENE WENGER claimed Thomas Vermaelen's new deal puts an end to the Arsenal exodus — but has he asked Robin van Persie?

Thomas Vermaelen’s staying... what about Robin van Persie?
GOAL FEVER ... Van Persie is on fire

Vermaelen signing a four-year contract was a much-needed shot in the arm for the Gunners, a day after Wenger spoke candidly about the chaos that engulfed the club in the summer.

Wenger's jaw-dropping admission that half his players wanted out last summer showed how much the departure of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri affected his squad.

The Emirates boss said: "It gives a different message. It looked like an exodus but we are a happy club. We did not have the start to the season we wanted but inside the atmosphere at the club is very solid, very united and very positive.

"We want to turn results around and the fact that players are extending their contracts at this point is positive for us."

Vermaelen's new deal brought Van Persie's future into sharper focus.

Tonight, against Marseille, the Dutchman will once again be Arsenal's main threat. Talk about Van Persie's future will continue to grow with every goal he scores — and he has 28 in 34 matches this year.

Where feverish speculation about Fabregas and Nasri dominated previous seasons, this will now be the Van Persie saga.

But does Vermaelen's decision send out a message to other players in the squad to follow suit?

Wenger replied: "I had no basic doubt. We had the desire to extend and we were quite relaxed that Thomas would sign."

Well, the Arsenal chief is far from relaxed about Van Persie.

Belgian defender Vermaelen, like Van Persie, had 19 months left on his deal. But Van Persie is stalling, which is why talk about the hitman's future will not go away, It infuriates Wenger, Arsenal's Press officer, even the Dutchman himself. But how can it go away when Nasri was sold after months of refusing to sign a new deal?

Wenger and Van Persie can talk about commitment all they like.

But real commitment has been shown by Vermaelen, who has signed on the dotted line despite the horrific start to the season which has left Arsenal in danger of missing out on the Champions League.

That is in stark contrast to Van Persie who is, at best, waiting to see if Arsenal make the top four.

Vermaelen, 25, is not even fit yet after his latest Achilles problem and is facing a race against time to play against Chelsea on Saturday week.