Sagna confident RVP will stay

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna believes Robin van Persie will stay at the club despite reports he could leave the Emirates Stadium.

Van Persie, who hit 30 Premier League goals for the Gunners this season, has one year left on his contract and is reportedly a target for a host of top European sides.

But team-mate Sagna is certain that the No.10 will be playing his football with Arsenal next season.

“I’m confident Robin will stay. He was a complete professional from the beginning until the end and helped us into third,” Sagna said.

“We want to keep him. Everyone is so grateful to him for what he’s done for the club and how important he is.

“He is our captain and he takes his role and responsibilities very seriously. He gives everything as a player and captain.”

The 29-year-old, who will miss France’s Euro 2012 campaign with a broken leg, praised the ambition Arsenal have shown thus far in the transfer market after signing German striker Lukas Podolski.

Arsene Wenger is also believed to be interested in signing Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila, and Sagna would be delighted if his fellow countryman joined the north London side.

“We want more players to come to the team. Lukas Podolski has arrived already and he is a German international and a quality player,” he said.

“M’Vila can make a great impact. I’m not sure about his English but it took me time to learn. But I think he would suit us as well. Arsenal is a French-speaking team and it will help him settle.”

Arsenal finished third in the Premier League but remained trophyless for a seventh consecutive season. The defender, however, believes injuries saw the Gunners fall short and insisted that next season could be their year.

“I think we can be contenders this coming season. We showed a lot of people what we could do last season,” he said.

“Last summer, people were talking about Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leaving. It was a difficult season in the Premier League and, for all football fans, it has been a crazy, crazy season.

“It was difficult for us but we kept fighting. I think it shows we can be strong contenders next season.

“This season has given us great belief for the season coming. Arsene Wenger has always given us the belief and confidence and made the decisions to help us through.

“If we had not had so many injuries then I think we would have gone closer to winning trophies this season.”