Robin van Persiecould make his Manchester United debut against Everton. Photo: Nigel French/EMPICS Sport

Transfer news: Arsene Wenger is confident of keeping Robin van Persie

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is determined to keep star man Robin van Persie.

The 29-year-old revealed that he would not be signing a new deal with the north Londoners, sparking speculation linking him with Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus.

“For me, Van Persie is one of the best strikers in the world, if not the best, and my desire is to keep him at the Club,” he told Arsenal’s official website.

“As for the rest I will do what is in the best interests of Arsenal Football Club. That, at the moment, is where we are. There is not a lot more to say than that.

Robin was an exceptional leader last year. But we know how much we had to fight to come third because we missed out the start of the season. After seven games we had lost four and we have learned that for us it is vital for us to focus on the start of the season rather than on any transfers.

“If the transfers happen, they happen. As long as you are at the club you give your best for the club and that is the only pride you can have as a football player and as a manager.

“As long as you are somewhere you give your best every day for that club. If it changes, it changes. I am convinced that Robin is like that, he is completely focused every day on his job. He loves football, he loves the game and as long as he is here he will do that.”