So, Robin Van Persie confirmed what every Arsenal fan was dreading, yet half-expecting -- He will not sign a new contract.
The club captain announced on his official website, his decision to not sign a new deal, after being disappointed with the ideas of the club moving forward.
The Dutch striker wants to win trophies - he has only won the FA Cup in 2005 in his 8-year stay with the Gunners - and the way Arsenal are headed, that does not look likely. So says the 28-year-old.
How big a loss is it for Arsenal?
Van Persie is undoubtedly one of the most talented strikers in the world. He has the ability to create goals out of nothing. He almost single-handedly carried the Gunners to third place last season.
But he is no Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp. Van Persie has had one outstanding season for Arsenal. Henry and Bergkamp had outstanding games, every time they put on a Red & White shirt.
Arsenal, soon after Van Persie's announcement, brought out a statement saying "Robin has one year to run on his current contract and we are confident that he will fulfil his commitments to the club."
That is not what Arsenal fans want to hear or a statement that might make them happy. It is quite obvious, Van Persie and his agent already have a deal in the pipeline - whether it is with Manchester City, Paris St Germain, Juventus or even Barcelona or Real Madrid, nobody will know for some time yet. However, it is clear, the Dutch striker has a set plan and pretty much knows exactly what his future holds.
Arsenal and more importantly Arsene Wenger needs to understand this and let their club captain leave as soon as possible and with it try to get as much money as possible for an injury prone soon-to-be 29-year-old.
Any bid above £20 million ($ 31 million) should be considered, preferably with a club outside the English Premier League. Arsenal fans do not want to see another of their players join Manchester City. Arsenal will then rightly be called City's feeder club.
The Gunners can cope without Van Persie, if they find a sufficient enough replacement. They have already bought Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, both capable of leading the line and leading the line well. A fit Jack Wilshere is as good as a new signing.
The only danger is if other players, seeing Van Persie's departure decide, like Samir Nasri did when Cesc Fabregas left, to follow their captain out the door. That scenario needs to be avoided at all costs.
And, it can be curbed by making a statement in the transfer market for the first time in recent memory. Yes, the club have debts to pay over the new stadium, but as much as soccer is a business, it is also about the people. The fans deserve to be shown by their club, they mean business. They are not just happy about finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League year after year.
Wenger and Ivan Gazidis keep making public statements about the club's ambition and how they envisage Arsenal to challenge for titles. It hasn't happened for seven years now and those statements are wearing a little thin.
There was unbounded joy among Arsenal fans when Twitter was lit up by Fernando Llorente rumors. Those are the signings that the fans crave and want. To show the rest of their rivals, the Gunners mean business. It is not just about rolling over and taking what is given anymore.
Buying youngsters and grooming them into great players is a noble cause which has made Wenger into one of the most revered managers of all-time. However, when these youngsters, once they turn into the finished article, turn their backs on the club and move to greener pastures, Wenger needs to understand and find a balance.
Keep grooming the youngsters, but also ensure that Arsenal do not stall and stagnate. Arsenal Football Club is one of the biggest and most followed clubs in the world, they deserve better.
Buying a world-class proven goal-scorer will go a long way to appeasing the fans reeling from Van Persie's statement.
