Gervinho: We need Van Persie to stay

Arsenal’s Ivorian international Gervinho says that the club needs leaders like captain Robin van Persie to stay if they are to win some silverware this season.

The Gunners are finally finding some rhythm with their first back to back Premier League wins since February, after an intense summer that saw the Gunners forced to sell Nasri, Clichy and Fabregas. The man at the front of the Gunners revival is captain Robin Van Persie who has netted three consecutive braces at the Emirates (in the Premier League). With Van Persie’s contract running out in the summer of 2013, speculation is hotting up that the Dutchman wants to move on, effectively forcing the Gunners to sell their prized asset next summer.

Van Persie has stressed that he is in no hurry to sign a new deal, however he has reiterated his commitment to Arsenal at least for the short-term. New team mate Gervinho insists that the North London club must do all they can to keep their talisman, who believes Arsenal must do all they can to keep him.

We always need our best players so a player like Robin, frankly, we need him to stay at the club.
You have to have leaders in the group and he is a player who drags the team forward. He is the captain, his role is to galvanise the group and he assumes responsibility.
It would give me pleasure if he stayed. I have just arrived and I would like him to stay so I can play with him a while longer. Against Stoke, he came on and scored two goals. He is an excellent player and the team need him.

I’m sure when Gervinho signed he was expecting to play with Fabregas and Nasri, and would not have thought that their new captain would have speculation surrounding his future within two months of the new season. Regardless of what the media are saying, the Gunners will do everything they can to keep Van Persie but it is down to the players doing the business on the pitch and for the board to sanction a significant signing/s either in January or next summer.