By ANTONY KASTRINAKIS
Just like they did with Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri last year.Boss Arsene Wenger refused to give a clear answer about the Gunners’ plans if talks with Van Persie stall.
Last summer the club dithered for three months before selling Fabregas and Nasri in late August, leaving little time to bring in replacements.
Nasri, like Van Persie now, had a year left on his contract and refused to extend — so he was sold.
Following the inevitable sale of Fabregas to Barcelona, a shell-shocked Arsenal crashed 8-2 at Manchester United last August.
Yet far from learning the lessons, Wenger defended the club’s handling of the Fabregas-Nasri saga. That’s despite the fact that Arsenal had to sign four players — Per Mertesacker, Mikel Arteta, Santos and on-loan Yossi Benayoun — in the final days of the transfer window after the Old Trafford disaster.
Wenger’s answer was: “Learn the lesson from what?
“There again you forget that I’m quite keen one day to speak about that, to make you change your mind, that we didn’t make big mistakes, that we did quite well. But the difference is that we do not master necessarily always the pace of things.
“You need to be three. And three to agree. Sometimes, the tactic of the opponent is linked to wait by thinking they get you by buying time.
“So if you don’t give in, you will have to take time, especially when you are linked with different championships like Spain who start end of August, beginning of September. They have time.”
It was a baffling answer to a clear question: ‘Will you be quick in RVP’s case or will it be like Fabregas and Nasri?’
Wenger chose to fudge the issue after saying previously this time round Arsenal are keen to conclude their business quickly.
Yesterday, he seemed to do a U-turn, suggesting they will not force the pace.
Most fans are worried Arsenal will lose yet another talisman this summer.
They have made a habit of selling their best players and then failing to win silverware.
Talks with Van Persie are due next week and Wenger claimed that securing a Champions League spot might convince Van Persie it’s worth staying.
The French boss said: “You should ask him. I don’t know whether it will influence him. But Robin is not at the end of his contract. Simple as that.”
Yes — but neither was Nasri or Fabregas.
If Gooners were hoping that another season without silverware would prompt a spending spree, think again.
But splashing the cash on world-class stars might be what will also convince Van Persie to stay.
