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Robin van Persie: My story on how I became an Arsenal fan

Written by Renzo on May 11, 2011 – 4:45

Arsenal Interactive - Player RatingsRobin van Persie

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie confessed a childhood football jersey and big names joining the Club are the reasons why he was a fan of the Gunners as a child.

Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, the Holland International was full of smiles as he explained that he had two football shirts when he was 12 years old, one of A.C. Milan – presumably because of the Van Basten-Gullit-Rijkaard trio – and one of Arsenal, the one he picked for his first photo shoot.

On the change the Gunners went through when manager Arsene Wenger took over, the 27-year old joked that they were no longer labeled as “Boring Arsenal” as they then started to play “sexy football”.

On becoming an Arsenal player himself, the striker concluded by saying that he loves the Club – by him described as class – as every single element has class, from the manager to the players to those working to make the Emirates a better place for the fans.

On his early days, van Persie said:

I had two football team shirts, one of them was A.C. Milan and the other one was Arsenal.

I was about 11 or 12 years old and I did a photo shoot in that shirt. This guy asked me, ‘What shirt do you want to do the shoot with?’ It was my first shoot and if I had to pick one I [decided to do it with] the Arsenal one.

I started to support Arsenal because especially since the arrival of the boss and Dennis [Bergkamp] and [Patrick] Vieira and players like that, Arsenal did change from what they used to say “Boring Arsenal” to a really fancy sexy football playing team.

I love this Club, I think it’s a Club of class, if you look at our people who are working for Arsenal, from the boss to the people working at the Emirates, anyone who I speak to, anyone who is involved with Arsenal, they have class.

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  • ArsenalFC says:
    May 11, 2011 at 5:50

    Is this a joke? I love Arsenal but this is so not true. First of all, where is the class from Wenger when he kicks bottles of water on the touchline when we are losing and he does not shake the opposition coach’s hand.When we lose, he blames the refs,the pitch and everything else but himself and the players.If our young players were so disciplined why are they consistently showing lack of effort against the so called lesser sides?
    Our fans are certainly not class anymore.They are fighting between each other at the Emirates.Also,never caught up in stupid shenanigans ? Have you heard of Jack Wilshere? He is becoming the new John Terry.His ex is having a baby.He will be a father at 19.He cheated on her when they were together.He was arrested at 3 in the morning. I know he did not touch anyone but his friends beat up some guy and a girl and he was there.
    Take off the rose-tinted glasses please.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Ben says:
      May 11, 2011 at 6:06

      How about you shut up? How about that?

      Reply to this comment »
      • Jack says:
        May 11, 2011 at 8:13

        What Ben said, shut up you mug

        Reply to this comment »
    • BONTLE says:
      May 11, 2011 at 10:05

      Give Jack a break! Where were you at 19, a monastery?! Get a life will you!!!

      Reply to this comment »
    • Ansah says:
      May 11, 2011 at 12:09

      you are the most stupidest-est gunner ever! We say the players lack commitment, when you have a true gunner who bleeds red and white and is passionate about our truly classy club, you say this drivel? Go support Stoke City.

      Reply to this comment »
    • CS1 says:
      May 11, 2011 at 15:05

      ye i agree with the others, Shut the Hell up and go support someone else. your so dumb.

      Reply to this comment »
  • ArsenalFC says:
    May 11, 2011 at 5:23

    My favorite teams are also AC Milan and Arsenal just like Van Persie. Wow.What a coincidence! My first football team shirt though was (the real) Ronaldo’s number 9 with Inter when I was like 9-10. What a legend he was…. memories,memories…

    Reply to this comment »
  • DouglasFC says:
    May 11, 2011 at 5:27

    Great Joyce

    Reply to this comment »
  • Sylvan says:
    May 11, 2011 at 6:46

    Van Persie has got passion for the club as
    well as talent ..
    This year he scored the most goals in one season in his career =)

    Reply to this comment »
  • gOonErs says:
    May 11, 2011 at 7:19

    whatever wenger do,we always trust you….in arsene wenger we trust.!

    Reply to this comment »
  • Steve Palmer says:
    May 11, 2011 at 7:33

    I must admit Robin Van Persie has been an absolute Model professional since he has been with us, and had his fitness been constant and uninterrupted could so easily have become the highest scorer in the Premier League, but its sad to say that Robin as most of the Arsenal team struggled to keep fit, Although i like Robin, he is predominately left footed and that has been a lot of the reasons he hasn’t scored more goals than he has, he has scored with his right foot but the hesitation to favour his left has been an Achilles heel.

    Reply to this comment »
  • gerry dee says:
    May 11, 2011 at 8:45

    agreed, but he has hit his fair share of crackers with his chocolate leg

    not even that though, his ability to switch from right to left to bewilder defenders is just stunning, my two favourite players are samir nasri and robin van persie, almost entirely because of their sublime touch and close control

    nasri wins the contest for me but just barely. my biggest wish, that robin stays healthy for 3/4 of next season.

    it would ease my conscience if we signed a skilled striker to compete with van persie.

    Reply to this comment »
    • gerry dee says:
      May 11, 2011 at 8:46

      twas towards stevie P up there ^^

      Reply to this comment »
  • mario says:
    May 11, 2011 at 9:06

    id wish we had more players like rvp at the club……apart from him i dont see any other player showing the passion and the desire that we once saw at the arsenal……jack wilshere is the most overrated player in the league

    Reply to this comment »
    • Dman says:
      May 11, 2011 at 9:56

      Mario if you got nothing better to comment Shut Up!, so stupid.

      Reply to this comment »
      • Chris says:
        May 11, 2011 at 9:59

        For the record, I say who can comment and who cannot and if Mario believes that Jack is overrated, we may completely disagree, but this doesn’t mean that he cannot give us his opinion.

        Reply to this comment »
  • pistolpete says:
    May 11, 2011 at 9:18

    ‘Jack Wilshire the most overated player in the league’, That is the most Stupid Comment i have read on here, Mario your knowledge of football is obviously very limited.

    Reply to this comment »
  • AFC says:
    May 11, 2011 at 10:12

    Van persie is already an Arsenal Legend.He has given everything to this club.No matter how he performs in the future.But its just a shame that other players at Arsenal have no loyalty,ethics and justice.Look at cesc,If he had said “I won’t leave Arsenal for my entire life” when barcelona made a bid on him last summer then i will be proud to have him at Arsenal.But he himself came forward n said i want to leave.Then why the F**k he came to Arsenal?.Barca chuked him out wenger brought him IN and made him a world class player what he is today.Now he wants to leave arsenal for his childhood club when they are interested in him.I seems like he has waited for years expecting Barcelona to make a bid on him.I already lost all my hopes on cesc last summer.It’s just better to let him leave.On the other hand,”Bendtner is saying that his dream is to go to Barca”.Honestly What’s going on here?Nobody wants to play for Arsenal?I feel very sorry for Wenger.The problem is not Wenger it is our Players with no passion to play for Arsenal.

    Reply to this comment »
    • pdxArsenal says:
      May 11, 2011 at 17:47

      I am Arsenal fan just over two years but if I recall correctly players like Henry, Bergkamp and similar, left Arsenal at some point of their career. Funny to say but if you listen to their interviews and read press, they think they are Arsenal players deep inside. Cheer up, there is pride in Arsenal.

      Reply to this comment »
      • Arsenes.Angel@DirtyWings says:
        May 11, 2011 at 21:56

        You have supported Arsenal for only TWO Years – omg! Fair play to you m8 cause that means you joined us during our most awful period in modern times, when ‘fans’ are fighting each other and people who joined up in our best period appear to have second thoughts… You Sir are a Star! Welldone the man, if you can choose AFC now of all times I feel sure better days you will see :)

        Peace

        Reply to this comment »
        • Athesit Gooner says:
          May 11, 2011 at 22:24

          I don’t know how serious your comment was, but for the record I obly started supporting the Arsenal last year. And now I really love this club to death.

          Their class is what did it for me, much likr Van Persie really (who incidentally is my favourite Arsenal player).

          Call me Johnny-come-lately all you want, but at least I am no glory hunter.

          Reply to this comment »
  • abhi says:
    May 11, 2011 at 10:19

    I feel van persie should be the captain next season even if fab is around. Sometimes responsiblity of captaincy tends to get the best out of some players. Maybe then he will strive for a nice full FIT season

    Reply to this comment »
  • Tonia Reeves says:
    May 11, 2011 at 10:37

    Van Persie has love for the team; I wish the rest of the players were like him. If Wenger buys a forceful striker to play along with Van Persie and a defender like Samba, no doubt, Arsenal will win a trophy next season. Keep loving Arsenal Van Persie we love you too!!

    Reply to this comment »
  • A.j says:
    May 11, 2011 at 11:01

    R.v.p is a perfect example of a player who shows royalty and respect for his club,.this definately makes him to always give all for the club,the rest players should try and emulate him,.thank man for your royalty

    Reply to this comment »
  • R.v.p says:
    May 11, 2011 at 12:11

    Robin has been bit like the one man stand for arsenal this season,, bit like rooney for manu.. arsenal would have been struggling for 5th if it wasnt for him.. 15 goal’s after Christmas,, thats just an amazing achievement,, and heavily contributed by his utmost desire to play for arsenal,, true gooner,, my captain next season..

    Reply to this comment »
  • PaulK says:
    May 11, 2011 at 12:30

    Everyone at Arsenal is class except for the fans. Many are the biggest moaners and complainers you’ll ever see in the PL.

    Reply to this comment »
    • gerry dee says:
      May 11, 2011 at 19:23

      agreed, funny to see each one praising van persie for his class (which, i of course, think he has plenty of of) and saying he should be captain

      now i think a captain needs the passion and fire van persie has. but where are the ones who were saying he’s not a leader for the needless yellow at barcelona? there’s things like that also. i remember that first yellow was a hot talking point after the game, and many wouldn’t give him the time because of it.

      Reply to this comment »
    • Mark says:
      May 13, 2011 at 20:24

      Agreed, there is only ever 1 winner in each competition and if not for a few bad games we could be there for all of them. Wish we could get a bit more of a vibe in the stadiums, been a few times to different grounds and ours was far and away the quietest. Said it before, but we should start a shout as loud as you can for evry game, win or lose …. Great team, some fantastic players, all with heart

      Reply to this comment »
  • Gunnertime says:
    May 11, 2011 at 12:59

    Interesting to note what drew RVP towards us in the first place, the arrival of people like Bergkamp and Vieira.

    This is where I think Wenger could really lift the spirits of everyone at the football club, both players and fans alike. Go get a marquis signing and some lower profile but recognised names, get a feelgood factor with a new season on its way. Pay early, get it done without fuss.

    What we don’t want before next season is seeing the non-stop borefest of Fabregas’s departure and us being in the market for loads of players but not signing anyone then a few days before the deadline making a rushed and botched effort to buy someone and running out of time.

    Clear some wage space by getting rid of players who don’t want to be at the Arsenal, a few who are just not up to the mark, and look at next season as a watershed moment. The future starts here!

    Victoria Concordia Crescit – Victory Comes From Harmony. The clubs motto needs to be respected again by the rest of the football world. Why? Because it’s Arsenal – we’re by far the greatest team the world has ever seen.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Rock says:
    May 11, 2011 at 14:34

    See……see! this is exactly why RVP should be captain. Bloomin eck Arsene. Fabregas courts real madrid the entire summer has lunches with calderon discusses a move, thanks real madrid for looking after him that summer, then next summer is in the spanish camp talking up a move to barca with all his lil team mates, and thats when u hand him the captaincy?

    the Arsenal captain is supposed to bleed ARSENAL. Van Persie has turned down chelsea, barca, man utd, man city without hesitation and you NEVER hear him say anything untoward, always sticks up for the club no matter what unlike our current captain.

    Wake up Arsene and hand him the armband before its too late.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Denilsonblow says:
    May 11, 2011 at 22:23

    TV should be captain. He is a born leader. Fabregas is a great player, But definitely not a leader. He can lead with performances all he likes..But in the end of the day, work is not gonna get done unless you scream and shout at players. We need a couple of vidic’s in our team. Szczesny is a good example of how our youth players should handle themself on the pitch. he is so brave, so passionate and screams at defenders.

    Reply to this comment »
  • jason says:
    May 12, 2011 at 0:03

    Thank god we have this guy he is world class.

    Reply to this comment »
  • GunnerJaw says:
    May 12, 2011 at 1:11

    Actually Bergkamp retired at arsenal

    Reply to this comment »
  • Mark says:
    May 12, 2011 at 4:16

    i realise Cesc is important part of Arsenal, and the captaincy is a big incentive for him to stand by the club. But when I hear RVP say these things i can’t help but thinking he should be the captain. well at least if Cesc were to leave (I hope not; would be a step backwards), RVP would be a more-than-worthy replacement.

    Reply to this comment »
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