Robin Van Persie Set To Leave Arsenal

This is an update for the fans about my current situation. I have kept quiet all this time out of respect and loyalty for the club and as agreed with Mr. Gazidis and Mr. Wenger, but since there is so much speculation in the media, I think it is fair for you guys to know what’s really going on at the moment.

As announced earlier this year I had a meeting with the Boss and Mr. Gazidis after the season. This was a meeting about the club’s future strategy and their policy. Financial terms or a contract have not been discussed, since that is not my priority at all.

I personally have had a great season but my goal has been to win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days. Out of my huge respect for Mr. Wenger, the players and the fans I don’t want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.

I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I have decided not to extend my contract. You guys, the fans, have of course the right to disagree with my view and decision and I will always respect your opinions.

I love the club and the fans, no matter what happens. I have grown up and became a man during my time with Arsenal FC. Everybody at the club and the fans have always supported me over the years and I have always given my all (and more) on and off the pitch. I am very proud of being part of this fantastic club for the last 8 years. As soon as Mr. Gazidis is back from his 2-week holiday in America further meetings will follow and I will update you if and when there are more developments.

Via. Van Persie Official 

Today's Transfer News

• Jovetic nears Chelsea move 

• Liverpool are going bid for Wigan attacker Victor Moses

• Newcastle have reignited  their interest to sign Lille full-back Mathieu Debuchy

• Robinho could be sold by AC Milan

• Chelsea eye Piszczek to fill right-back vacancy

• Proto reject Manchester United's  £30 million bid for James Rodriguez

• Spurs will  pay  £32m for Porto's Joao Moutinho 

• Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande want Manchester United's Wayne Rooney 

Beckham Olympic Omission Surprises His Galaxy Team Mates

Landon Donovan:

"We're disappointed for David,"

"You look at it in a bigger context, the opportunity to play an Olympics in your home country is really special. To have that taken from you is devastating, especially for a guy who has done so much for the sport in that country. It doesn't really make sense."

"It'd be easier to understand if he wasn't playing well, but I think anybody who's seen him play would say he deserves to be on the team,"

Robbie Keane:

"The whole country was probably thinking that it was 100 per cent that he was going to be picked," 

"Everyone is shocked."

LA coach Bruce Arena:

"David's physically fine and he's just getting better," the former US national team boss said.

"Over the last two months he's really started to come into form. There's absolutely nothing wrong with him."

Balotelli Goal Vs Germany Euro 2012

Picture Of The Day

SUPER MARIO  "BALOTELLI"

Today's Transfer News

• Barcelona agrees to sign Jordi Alba for  £11m.

• Manchester United no more in race for Modric, which makes Real the favourites. 

• Inter have made Diego Forlan available for transfer

• Lille makes  £7m bid for Afellay

• Inter in talk with De Jong

• Manchester City have made Robin Van Persie their first transfer priority

• Chelsea are thought to be moving closer to agreeing a deal for Stevan Jovetic

Casillas Hopes For More Final Glory

Iker Casillas: 

"I was very quiet, or so it seemed to me," 

"Penalties are a lottery. I had the intuition in that penalty for Portugal and I stopped it, which was the best we could get."

"It was a kind of revenge for what happened to us as team. Ronaldo? He always shoots well in penalties. It was a decision from Portugal that he didn't shoot.

"Ramos' penalty? Well, you really need guts to shoot on Panenka's style. Ramos has showed male attributes here, and the courage he got."

"We were tired in the game, and that counts. Now we have another day to rest, and let's see what happens in the final."

"We've made history, already. We are still making it. We hope people remember that forever. Because it is unique what we are achieving."

Fabregas:

The team has worked so hard,"

"I had the feeling that there would be penalties tonight.

"I wanted to take one if we had this opportunity. To be honest, I am very excited. To reach another final in four years is amazing."

"After a very long season with so much work, we deserved this," the Real Madrid defender said.

"We are happy with the performance of the team. Individual success is not as important as the collective one, which is to reach the final."

"I am proud to be Spanish."

Jordi Alba:

"To be honest, it was a very even match, both in 90 minutes and the extra-time," Alba said. "Spain was the better team in extra-time, and before it was a very tough game."

"Iker Casillas is always here, and he's a huge keeper. We knew he was going to appear, like he always does

"The ones who really know take the penalties. I could have, but there are more players who do well."

I Was Next Penalty Taker - Ronaldo

"The penalties? I was going to take the next one," 

"I feel sad. Losing a semi-final in the penalty shoot-out is always painful, but it is a lottery: the luckier side wins.

"I think it was a good tournament on our part. We did very well. We are amongst the best four teams in Europe and the only reason we do not reach the final is because we were not lucky.

"We have to be proud of what we did, but we are a bit frustrated because we know we could reach the final.

"I gave my best, so I am satisfied with that I did. We deserved to be in the final, but we were not lucky."

My Team-mates Fixed It - Alonso

"Fortunately there was a happy ending for us, but it was tough and we had to work for it," 

"It was a very even game. In extra time we had a lot of chances, but someone has to win and fortune smiled on us. If someone had scored in the 90 minutes they'd have won the game."

"We knew it was going to be a difficult match, we'd studied them and we knew they'd come out strong and look to take advantage of their physical qualities, and we'd also have to stop their counter-attacks."

"We're in another final now and that's a tremendous reward,"

"Whatever happens, we have to be proud. In games like this you have to keep your calm. Now we want to take the cup home.

"For my penalty the goalkeeper made a good save but my team-mates fixed it."

Del Bosque Praised Spanish Defence

"We are happy, we've made an extraordinary effort in a very equal game all over 90 minutes," 


"We've been the better team in extra-time. It was a controlled game, a very slow one. We are all happy because we got fantastic players, even after a hard season, they gave it their all."


"We can discuss that we didn't play very well, but defensively we were great, all four defenders and two defensive midfielders. We had joy with Jesus Navas and Pedro on the flanks,"

"Everybody offered themselves to take penalties," 

"Cesc got the second, but he asked for the fifth one. We wouldn't discuss that. We had great confidence in Sergio Ramos. The keeper was choosing one of the sides in the shoot-out and he did well. And Sergio's was a good effort."

"Now, it is time to rest and prepare for the final."

Portugal Vs Spain Highlights EURO 2012

Today's Transfer News

• Barcelona have confirmed they are in talks with Valencia to sign full-back Jordi Alba.

• Borussia Moenchengladbach have announced that they have signed Alvaro Dominguez from Atletico Madrid.

• Bruno Alves wants Jeventus move

• Tottenham Hotspur are winning the race for Gylfi Sigurdsson

• Manchester City striker John Guidetti wants a Lazio move

• Napoli refuses to sell Cavani

• Agent confirms Mandzukic move to Bayern Munich 

• Chelsea midfielder Malouda could make a move to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama 

• Chelsea and Milan in race to sign German International Andre Shurrle

• Damiao claims Spurs have made an official bid for him.

• Arsenal and Chelsea are competing for Newcastle United winger Ben Arfa

• Liverpool considering a move for Juan Manuel Vargas 

• Thiago Motta close to a PSG move

• West Ham looking to sign Arsenal and Liverpool target Kalou on loan. 

Today's Transfer News

• The Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato wants a move to Premier League, he also said "I have friends at Chelsea"

• Manchester City Edin Dzeko could make a Bayern switch.

• Bruno Alves wants a Juventus move

• Arsenal confirm Giroud signing

• Chelsea midfielder Malouda could join Brazilian side Vasco da Gama

• M'Vila - "I have heard Arsenal are Interested in me, i like Arsenal"

• Chelsea are chasing Malaga CF tailsman Salomon Rondon

Ivanovic urges Modric to join Chelsea

"I know there was interest in the transfer window before,"

"Chelsea as a team have needed a player with these qualities. He would fit in quickly and strengthen the squad. He has been in England a long time and knows about the way football is played on the island and the mentality of the players. He has exceptional quality, and moving to a bigger club is necessary for him to take the next step in his career."

"I think at Chelsea he would adapt instantly and become a better player. He should come to Chelsea - it won't go wrong!"

Olivier Giroud Signs Arsenal

Giroud Said:

“I am delighted to be here at Arsenal and to be part of one of the great teams in English football. It's a huge satisfaction to join this great club and it’s been a dream since I was young to play in the Premier League."

“I was attracted by the philosophy of football and Arsene Wenger’s 'touch' at this club. I have always admired Arsenal with its great history and reputation, and I now hope to achieve great things here. I’m very proud to be a Gunner and I will give my best for all the Arsenal fans.”

The French Striker joined Arsenal for £13 million.

Arsenal had already signed German International Lukas Podolski 

Today's Transfer News

• Montpellier chief confirm Giroud's Arsenal move

• Danny Murphy has made a move to Blackburn from Fulham

• Bale set to stay at White Hart Lane

• Huntelaar will stay at Schalke, He was on radar of Chelsea and Manchester United 

• Atletico wont sell Falcao at any cost

• Liverpool Striker Craig Bellamy would join Cardiff City

Gerrard Rued England's Luck

Gerrard: 

"The players have given everything. I thought we might have the luck in the penalty shootout but it wasn't to be,"

"When you get your nose in front during a shootout, you just hope you can hang on, but credit to Italy, they got the luck in the shootout."

"The lads at the back were fantastic, we have done the country proud but we go home heartbroken and that is hard to take."

Rooney:

"We're gutted about it, people weren't expecting much this tournament but we've shown we are a good team," 

"I don't know why we can't win penalty shootouts, it's a hard way to go out and it's happened too many times now."

Hart:

"I face penalties against Mario Balotelli on the training ground and I felt confident, but he took a good penalty," 

"I'll take away the great way we qualified, we've lost at the end of the day, but I don't think anyone has let the country down and we have adapted well to the manager."

Pedro: Spain Can Stop Ronaldo

"Cristiano is a fantastic player who's in a great form and that must be taken into account. But I think we know how to neutralise him, so let's wait and see what happens, we are very confident but it will be difficult,"

"We are virtually the same players as in the past, we are confident, playing well, and I think in that sense this team is as good as in the last Euro or World Cup,"

"We're hitting our stride at the right time and we hope to play a great game against Portugal."

"The team played well, the first goal calmed us down and we managed to keep possession. Being in control against a good team such as France should make us feel very satisfied," 

"It was also important because of the history between the two teams. They have always been a very tough rival, so it was so important to play a great match and finally beat them."

Pirlo's Penalty Wears Down Roy Hodgson's English Men

Pirlo:

"Joe Hart was doing some strange movements, "So when he dived I decided to take it like that and it went well."

"It put a bit of pressure on their takers and in fact Ashley Young missed his penalty after that."

"England did not create any chances during the match. They played for the penalty shoot-out, while we wanted to win."

"We knew we could dominate the match, and all that England did was defend. We used up more energy than we expected, but we were able to win the match."

Buffon:

"It is clear that I feared an upset,"

"In the penalty shoot-out you can be lucky and win or unlucky and lose. With regards to the 120 minutes of action, we deserved the victory, we created more chances than them."

"After Montolivo missed his penalty, I only thought that I should save as many as possible, because my team-mates deserved to win the match, and so did I."

De Rossi:

"Pirlo's penalty? It has been many years since I saw one this beautiful. It reminded me of Totti's penalty against Netherlands in 2000,"

Diamanti:

"Justice was done, we played better than England. We controlled the match from the first minute,"

"I did not think anything while I was taking my penalty, I only thought about scoring and go to Buffon and celebrate with him."

England Vs Italy EURO 2012

Penalties