RVP: WENGER BEST BOSS IN THE WORLD
Van Persie insists he learned EVERYTHING he knows from under-fire Gunners manager
ROBIN VAN PERSIE has claimed Arsene Wenger is the best manager in the world.
Former Arsenal striker Van Persie, 34, says he “owes everything” to Wenger and rates him the best boss he has ever worked with... and that includes Sir Alex Ferguson. RVP joined the Gunners
ARSENE WENGER had a unique “connection” with the young players he transformed into superstars.
That is the view of former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, who has given a rare insight into Wenger’s man-management methods and the secrets behind the Frenchman’s success.
Wenger (above with Van Persie) has an incredible track record of developing youngsters, like Thierry Henry (right) and Cesc Fabregas.
It would be easy for Van Persie to single out Sir Alex Ferguson as his best manager as he won his only Premier League title at Manchester United, but the Dutchman says he would have achieved nothing had Wenger not taken him under his wing.
The 34-year-old – who has gone back to Feyenoord, from where he joined Arsenal in 2004 – said: “A manager can’t spend that much time with every player in his squad but we had a very good connection. I learned so much in the years I played for Arsene.
“Arsene made me think about things. He never laid it all out on a plate.
“I remember being 21 and it was my second season at Arsenal. I thought I was entitled to get more chances in the first team.
“Arsene was aware of my ambitions but he told me that I was not yet a top-class player. ‘But that is want I want to be, so I have to play more,’ I said to him. Wenger looked at me and said: ‘Robin, you have to ask yourself why you are not a top player yet. Write down for yourself what your qualities are right now and also write down which qualities you think you still need to improve.’
“It was great stuff from him. He made me think about my own development. Arsene is an intelligent man and he has so much patience. “Our talks were not spiritual, but we did have some very, very thorough talks about life. He really gave his time to his players.”
Van Persie joined after Arsenal’s Invincible season, their last Premier League title triumph, and left the Emirates in 2012 after a long wait for more silverware.
His Arsenal career chimes with the spell at the Emirates of Alexis Sanchez who, like Van Persie, ran down his contract and then joined one of Arsenal’s biggest rivals in Manchester United.
Gunners fans have not forgiven the Dutchman but the ex-World Cup star says Wenger showed no hard feelings when he left for Old Trafford.
Van Persie added: “I hear the trouble with other players when they make a transfer. They leave with the doors banging when they walk out. That was never the case when we separated.
“Arsene and I spoke about everything with dignity. The club (Arsenal) and I did not agree on some things. That’s life.”