We can replace him

Robin Van Persie was a fantastic striker for us, the best in the league in my opinion. He had a good goal record even before this season, and of course he was our saviour many times last season with his ability to produce a goal out of nothing, see Liverpool away and Everton at home for more. There are very few strikers on the planet who have the quality to put away that kind of chance, no matter the quality of the pass from Song.

We can't replace Van Persie's technical ability either. In my opinion Van Persie is 2nd only to Ibrahimovic technically out of all the strikers in European football.

BUT - RvP isn't the brilliant, untouchable finisher some people think he is. He misses plenty of chances, and often at crucial moments. Yes he has the quality to score goals no-one else can, but in Giroud and Podolski we have two proven quality finishers who together can equal or even surpass RvP's goal tally last season. Giroud may not have the touch and control of RvP, but he is an excellent poacher with better goalscoring instinct and far more aerial ability than Robin. Podolski meanwhile adds more pace and dynamism than the Dutchman, and has a similarly lethal left foot.

We can also replace his leadership - Van Persie was a decent captain who helped us pull through a difficult period - but he was hardly a great one. Like Cesc, he led by example, and the other players looked up to him, but the best captains are the ones that continue to cajole the best from the players around them while they themselves aren't on form, and I get the impression that RvP isn't a natural leader in the same way as Vermaelen. Also his attitude, on reflection, took quite a steep nose-dive at the end of the season. His work-rate deteriorated, and a captain should lead by example off as well as on the ball, he didn't do that.

The article by his close friend, representing the problem facing RvP, stated that Ramsey and Gervinho were not good enough, and this was probably somehow implied by Van Persie. Whether you agree with him or not, it is not for a captain to decide which players are worthy of him or not, and it was at that moment when I think his demeanour changed from being flushed with confidence due to his excellent form to downright arrogance, proved today as he showed that he thinks he is bigger than the club.

I say accept anything around 20 million, we won't get anymore thanks to Robin's thoughtful and sensitive gesture to the fans, telling the whole world that he wants to leave putting us in a horrendous position. Then we should go out and splash it on a top CAM, as well as doing our utmost to keep Theo. I would go for the Brazilian Hernanes of Lazio. Given better service and work rate from the central midfielders I'm confident that we can improve on last season's goal tally even without RvP.

Finally another upside I can see is that we won't have a star player anymore, no-one who can become arrogant and buy into the 'one-man team' bs, no-one who has the demeanour of carrying the team on his shoulders, no-one who wants out. We can start with a fresh slate, 11 hungry, good quality players who will give their all, a more cohesive unit with goals spread around the team and a stronger bench to boot.

So, Farewell Robin, thanks for everything, and good riddance.