Wenger confident of new Van Persie deal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident that club captain Robin van Persie will sign a new contract at the Emirates.

Van Persie’s current deal with the Gunners expires in July 2013.

The striker has been in excellent form this season and has bagged nine goals in just 13 games for Wenger’s side.

Wenger told the BBC: “He has 18 months to go and I’m confident he’ll sign a new deal. I’m always confident.”

Van Persie is the only current player in the Gunners squad to have won a trophy while playing for Arsenal, winning the FA Cup in 2005 – their last major trophy to date.

Wenger, speaking at Arsenal’s Annual General Meeting, also defended his approach to the game and believes it has been a struggle to cope against teams with huge resources at their disposal.

However, he is confident of winning major honours if the club stick together and have the backing of the supporters.

“I believe the values we defend are highly defendable,” Wenger said.

“We want to do things with class and be very brave. Courage is a quality I admire, because it is needed in the modern world.”

“I can see a lot of fear and discontent among you – and I can understand that because we live in a world where we fight with people who have extremely high resources.”

“We can compete by trying to be intelligent and to be united, because football is very difficult to be consistent and we have been more consistent than anybody in the world in the last 15 years.”

“To stay at the top, top level we have to stay united. That does not mean I am not to be criticised, or the board – we accept that, but we have to show to the outside we are united. If you are not, then you have no chance.”