Arsenal hopeful captain Van Persie will do 'a Rooney' and stay

Posted Saturday, July 14, 2012 by Dailymail

Arsenal will head into next week's make-or-break talks with Robin van Persie hopeful the contract rebel is ready to perform a Wayne Rooney-style U-turn.

The Gunners skipper stunned the club earlier this month with a damning statement questioning the club's ambition whilst confirming his intention not to sign a new contract.

Arsenal hopeful captain Van Persie will do 'a Rooney' and stay
Robin van Persie: Will he stay, or will he go?

Van Persie is due to return to pre-season training next week and manager Arsene Wenger will take the opportunity to hold a heart-to-heart with his talisman in hope that he can persuade the 28-year-old to change his mind.

And a well-placed Arsenal source has told Sportsmail that the club are still 'very hopeful' of securing the long term future of Van Persie.

Members of the Gunners hierarchy feel Van Persie's controversial statement was merely a ploy by the forward's agent Kees Vos to secure his client a better deal - reminiscent of Rooney's contract stand-off with Manchester United in 2010.

After talks over a new deal broke down, Rooney released a statement confirming he wanted to leave Old Trafford.

However, just a few days later the England international signed fresh terms after being offered more money by United.

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