You Know What? I'm Over You Robin Van Persie

There are times when I can be quite the bitter person. When I hold a grudge against someone it usually sticks. I have a doghouse with five-star security systems and a large abundance of electric fences. So then why all of a sudden can I just let go of my grudge against the traitor, Robin Van Persie, the only athlete who's departure from my team actually brought me to tears? Let's make one thing clear however; I'm not forgiving Robin Van Persie. In fact, I don't think I ever will, nothing will ever change what he did. However, I think I've finally come to terms with it and it doesn't bother me the way it used to.

The summer of 2012 was a tumultuous one for Arsenal Football Club. Robin Van Persie had just pumped in 37 goals across all competitions for Arsenal during a rather disappointing campaign. Arsenal started the season incredibly poorly, including an 8-2 loss to Manchester United which followed the losses of star players Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. However, thanks to Van Persie's heroics, Arsenal mounted a vicious campaign in the later half of the season and took third place in the league, nowhere close to the top two teams however. The elephant in the room was that Van Persie's contract was running to it's end following the 2012-2013 season. After losing Fabregas and Nasri, the Van Persie contract situation represented a crossroads for Arsenal; could they retain their best players or had they become a selling club? Arsenal fans were cautiously optimistic after all Van Persie was the team captain, he seemed at home at Arsenal. He had a great manager who had remained loyal to him despite his history of injuries (the 2011-2012 season was the first in which Van Persie was healthy throughout). Arsenal even sealed deals with players like Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud before the opening of the transfer window to ease the scoring burden on him. However, on July 4th, Van Persie delivered the shocking news that he would not be resigning with Arsenal citing the club's "lack of ambition" as his reason. In other words, Van Persie thought the ship was sinking and was looking to get off as soon as he could. Arsenal fans were crushed, all the faith that they had placed in Van Persie turned out to be for nothing; he felt no loyalty back to the fans who had stuck with him all those years when he was out with injuries. Despite this, Arsenal fans tried to stay optimistic, we thought that Wenger would keep Van Persie around for the last year of his contract. If the campaign went well, perhaps Van Persie could be convinced to stay. Such assumptions were hopeful at best and on the 17th of August, Van Persie left the club for Manchester United.

In the back of our minds, us Arsenal fans knew that we weren't hanging on to Van Persie, any beliefs otherwise were hopeful at best. However, we never thought he'd leave for Man U, a hated rival. It was a slap in the face to Arsenal fans everywhere. The rest, as we know, is history. Van Persie had yet another magical campaign, leading the league in scoring and finally winning the Premier League title he wanted. He even scored in both meetings against Arsenal. Man U's guard of honor for winning the title happened to fall on the fixture at the Emirates, the ultimate slap in the face. Holding a guard of honor for Van Persie was like breaking up with your girlfriend during her birthday party. However, it was an empty triumph since he had just left his old team for dead for their rivals. I place a lot of value in loyalty. The pain of Van Persie leaving wasn't just the fact that he left for United but it was that he left the club that had stuck with him for all those years. Arsene Wenger was loyal to him in the same way that he has been with the oft-injured Abou Diaby. Van Persie finally paid off Wenger's loyalty with his last two seasons with the club and then left to cash in on his individual success. He betrayed the fans who had done nothing but shower love upon him in all his years at Arsenal. We were told it was a business decision but that was a lie. The club had shown him nothing but love and loyalty and Van Persie left it for dead to find glory with Manchester United, hollow glory at best. Had Van Persie stayed at Arsenal, he could have become a legend as it's captain. A league title with Arsenal would have brought him incredible respect. However, he decided to take the easy way out. However, I've finally come to terms with his leaving. It probably took his celebration of his goal against Arsenal this season to help me get over it. It's an unwritten rule that you don't celebrate goals against your former team out of respect. Hell, Theo Walcott hasn't played for Southampton in about 9 years and refused to celebrate his goal against them last season. Aaron Ramsey didn't celebrate either of his two goals at Cardiff this season. Van Persie's celebration put us Arsenal fans over the edge; we don't respect you Van Persie and you just eliminated any sentimentality any Arsenal fan had left for you.

Van Persie's celebration against Arsenal officially cut any ties he still had at the club

I still hold true to my belief that Arsenal could have won the league last season had Van Persie stayed. However, I think the time for such things has come to an end. I won't forgive Van Persie for what he did but it no longer bothers me the way it once did. Van Persie showed his true colors when arrived at United and frankly, I prefer the current Arsenal team to one with Van Persie. It doesn't have to do with Arsenal's current success in relation to Man U's this season. Van Persie's departure forced more personal responsibility on to the other players in the squad and every player has embraced it. I can let go of Robin Van Persie because I simply don't respect him as a player anymore. I will still remember the goals he scored with Arsenal and his final season with the club was a joy to watch but I no longer long for those moments anymore. Maybe it's the Christmas spirit that's allowing me to be this way and yes it has taken me over a year to get over this. I'll never respect the way Van Persie acted on his way out but I've gotten over his actual leaving. Arsenal are better off fielding a team of classy players who will fight for the club, they don't need glory hunters like Van Persie.