Arsene Wenger believes striker Robin van Persie is committed to staying at Arsenal beyond the summer.
Gunners boss confident in keeping star striker for next season
Arsene Wenger believes striker Robin van Persie is committed to staying at Arsenal beyond the summer.
The Dutchman is to negotiate terms with the club at the end of the campaign, having scored 35 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions.
He will have just 12 months remaining on his contract when the season draws to a close and he has inevitably attracted the reported interest of European giants Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Inter Milan.
Van Persie won the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year award on Thursday night and he has helped Arsenal move to third in the Premier League table.
Wenger claims he is confident in striking a deal with the former Feyenoord forward and hopes he will stay at the club for a long time.
Agreement
Wenger said: "Who would want to lose his best player? My desire and my wish is to find an agreement with Robin van Persie, extend the contract and stay with us for a longer time. Hopefully we can reach that.
"If that wouldn't happen, we will still want him to stay, but I am more focused on the first situation.
"I think what is important for us is that we find an agreement with him to be happy and to stay and finish his career here.
"I cannot guarantee that it will go well, but I am quite confident.
"I believe Robin is committed to the club, I feel that the club has shown great commitment to him over the years and put great faith in him.
"I brought him here a long, long time ago and he has developed fantastically well as a man and as a player.
"Today he is a world-class player and he deserves great credit. Hopefully we can keep him here."
The Gunners will strengthen their chances of retaining Van Persie by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for next season.
They are just one point above rivals Tottenham and Newcastle and have games against Norwich and West Bromwich Albion as they aim to seal third place.
