Arsenal won´t be rushed on van Persie

Arsenal are not going to be panicked into offering Robin van Persie a new contract, according to chairman Peter Hill-Wood.

The Dutchman’s current deal expires at the end of next season, and the forward has scored 17 goals in 20 appearances for club and country so far this term.

Despite the lack of dialogue on a new deal for the striker, Hill-Wood said he was comfortable to wait on talks with van Persie.

“He doesn’t want to talk about it at the moment and we are not troubling him,” Hill-Wood said.

“I think we will approach him near the end of the season.”

“But we obviously hope that he will sign a new contract – I don’t see why he should not. I can’t believe he is unhappy with us.”

Van Persie joined Arsenal in 2004 and Hill-Wood praised his development as a player and as a person during his time at the club.

“I think he is a decent fellow,” he said.

“He was quite difficult at Feyenoord, but we have had no trouble with him.”

Van Persie expressed his discontent with the club following the off-season departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, but his own form has been a key feature of Arsenal’s recent recovery and climb up the Premier League table after a tough start.