Arsene Wenger accepts sanctioning the sale of captain Robin van Persie to Manchester United was a "massive gamble", but has faith his team can recover to mount a successful Barclays Premier League campaign.

Holland international Van Persie today finalised a £24million switch to Old Trafford, having earlier in the summer announced he would not be signing a new deal with the Gunners.

Van Persie is the latest of Wenger's key men to move on following last summer's departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri - with Alex Song the next possible transfer amid reports of a £15million bid from Barcelona.

While the manner of Van Persie's exit may not sit well with many Arsenal fans - following his carefully worded summer statement questioning the direction of the club which stood by him during injury-plagued spells on the sidelines - Wenger maintains it is now time for everyone to look to the future as he prepares for the season opener against Sunderland.

"The reality is when the player doesn't want to stay you have two ways: you either force him to stay or you accept the reality and you let him go. I have chosen the second solution,'' said Wenger.

"I know it is a massive challenge and a massive gamble I took but we have the quality to deal with the problem we have, and at the end of the day I can talk and talk and talk but we can only show it on the pitch now.

"Time heals all things and of course at the moment people are hurt, which I understand, but what is important for us is to focus on the season in front of us.

"Players have gone, life goes on and the football club is 125 years old and other big players have left this club and we have always gone from season to season in a strong way.''

Arsenal will assess the fitness of England forward Theo Walcott (thigh) ahead of the game, but midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (ankle) and France defender Laurent Koscielny (calf) both miss out having withdrawn from the midweek internationals.

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has new signing Louis Saha is available and he could feature up front as fellow striker Stephane Sessegnon is an injury doubt after he picked up an ankle injury in training.


http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview/_/id/345830?cc=3888

ten hutt leggo

martin o'neil wudn't want 2 lose

watch out, y'all!!!!!!!!!

And the final score is Arsenal 2:Sunderland 4.

All Arsenal Captain always Leave @ the end of all Season.

Hope Song or Walcott will be the next Captain.

I Remain a Citizen.

Arsenal wil do beta dis season with at least a trophy. Dey recruited 3 experience players nd sold one experience player. Up gunners

jimino: Arsenal wil do beta dis season with at least a trophy. Dey recruited 3 experience players nd sold one experience player. Up gunners

. I laugh out loud @ ur statements. I'm sure you are being sarcastic, aren't you!

jimino: Arsenal wil do beta dis season with at least a trophy. Dey recruited 3 experience players nd sold one experience player. Up gunners

. I laugh out loud @ ur statements. I'm sure you are being sarcastic, aren't you?

Kick off 3:00pm Nigerian time.
Likely 4mation.
4-2-1-3.
Gk; Schzeszny.
Def; Jenkinson, Varmaelen, Martesacker, Gibbs.
Mid; Frimpong, Arteta, Carzola,
Forward: Podolski, Girourd, Gervinho.
Subs; Mannone, Djourou, Squillaci, A. Santos, Ramsey, Chamberlin, Chammakh.
Prediction; Arsenal 3-2 Sunderland.
Verdict on d sale of van Persie, it's a wise decision 2 sell a player whose heart s no longer wt d team. He was bought for £2.7million & sold for £24million. Dats a cool biz. But Arsenal ll regret all over ds season d sale of Alex Song 2 Barca.

watch da boyz in trainin....................dont judge a book by its cova

If song finally leaves, that means their is fire on d mountain

Okiki_Oluwa: Kick off 3:00pm Nigerian time.
Likely 4mation.
4-2-1-3.
Gk; Schzeszny.
Def; Jenkinson, Varmaelen, Martesacker, Gibbs.
Mid; Frimpong, Arteta, Carzola,
Forward: Podolski, Girourd, Gervinho.
Subs; Mannone, Djourou, Squillaci, A. Santos, Ramsey, Chamberlin, Chammakh.
Prediction; Arsenal 3-2 Sunderland.
Verdict on d sale of van Persie, it's a wise decision 2 sell a player whose heart s no longer wt d team. He was bought for £2.7million & sold for £24million. Dats a cool biz. But Arsenal ll regret all over ds season d sale of Alex Song 2 Barca.

Frimpong is injured so won't start. Giroud will also start from the bench. Podolski will be the top man today.
MAYBE Yennaris will play right back and Coquelin will play alongside Arteta.
@RVP, he didn't play for free all those 8 years you know?

line up 4-5-1 dojoru-kos-ver-gibbs[/color] arteta-song-cazola-podoski-walcott-ramsey[color=#006600] giroud[color=#000099][/color]

Why is westbrom vs Liverpool not on frontpage ....YWNWA!! Go BR

dejustice: All Arsenal Captain always Leave @ the end of all Season.

Hope Song or Walcott will be the next Captain.

I Remain a Citizen.

You don't remain a citizen. you have adopted the city banner and when in 2 months time a Bangladeshi billionaire buys Southend FC, you'll adopt their flag too.

So premiership is bck , cnt wait 2 c arsenal losing 3 nil , take a look @ dis pix

I believe Arsenal can make it without RVP and even Song. We lost Fabregas & Nasri but we could still make it to 3rd position. Assuming Song leaves, we can only do better with the likes of Cazorla, Giroud & Podolski!!! This is a changed Arsenal

I'm quite sad at the departure of van persie and imminent departure of alex song,the team lacks in quality and as a true Gunner i hate 2 admit that Arsenal'll struggle dis season! Though i see us pickin up the 3points at stake dis afternoon! COYG!!!

Prediction A.ssenal-Sunderland: 1-2

Mr Hornipipe :
Why is westbrom vs Liverpool not on frontpage ....YWNWA!! Go BR

[size=72pt]I wonder![/size]

Actually it's YNWA ([size=19pt]"You'll Never Walk Alone"[/size])

Henry40:


[size=72pt]I wonder![/size]

in ARSENE we trust

Henry40:


[size=72pt]I wonder![/size]

Actually it's YNWA ([size=19pt]"You'll Never Walk Alone"[/size])

Liverpool has got a larger fan base home and abroad compared τ̲̅ȍ arsenal YWNWA!

Okiki_Oluwa: Kick off 3:00pm Nigerian time.
Likely 4mation.
4-2-1-3.
Gk; Schzeszny.
Def; Jenkinson, Varmaelen, Martesacker, Gibbs.
Mid; Frimpong, Arteta, Carzola,
Forward: Podolski, Girourd, Gervinho.
Subs; Mannone, Djourou, Squillaci, A. Santos, Ramsey, Chamberlin, Chammakh.
Prediction; Arsenal 3-2 Sunderland.
Verdict on d sale of van Persie, it's a wise decision 2 sell a player whose heart s no longer wt d team. He was bought for £2.7million & sold for £24million. Dats a cool biz. But Arsenal ll regret all over ds season d sale of Alex Song 2 Barca.

Frim-wetin? Song is still an Arsenal player. He will play today. Remember Nasri played against Liverpool before leaving for Man city last season.

four to five persons now in arsenal is a goal scorer....before it was over reliance on lone striker. AW have signal him the exit door if he wants to. we the fans have no regret on this development because we have learnt our lessons in d past

wengerjay: And the final score is Arsenal 2:Sunderland 4.

it can't be possible

wengerjay: And the final score is Arsenal 2:Sunderland 4.

it can't be possible

Okiki_Oluwa: Kick off 3:00pm Nigerian time.
Likely 4mation.
4-2-1-3.
Gk; Schzeszny.
Def; Jenkinson, Varmaelen, Martesacker, Gibbs.
Mid; Frimpong, Arteta, Carzola,
Forward: Podolski, Girourd, Gervinho.
Subs; Mannone, Djourou, Squillaci, A. Santos, Ramsey, Chamberlin, Chammakh.
Prediction; Arsenal 3-2 Sunderland.
Verdict on d sale of van Persie, it's a wise decision 2 sell a player whose heart s no longer wt d team. He was bought for £2.7million & sold for £24million. Dats a cool biz. But Arsenal ll regret all over ds season d sale of Alex Song 2 Barca.

why is song not in the squade is he not an arsenal player

With the 3 new signings,Podolski,Giroud,Cazorla,also Walcott,Gervinho,The Ox...Arsenal now pose a multiple threat going forward as opposed to relying on just one top striker!

Prediction: Arsenal 3- Sunderland 1
Goals by Poldolski,Areta and Grioud!

Arsenal till I die!!

Another season. We pray not to be Teeth Gnashers at the end of it. Ameen