But while Arsene Wenger perceived Patrick Vieira (2005) and Thierry Henry’s (2007) departure as good business, and Cesc Fabregas’s protracted exit last European summer was to fulfil a romantic yearning to return home, RVP’s exit signals a grim reality for Gunners fans.

His decision to leave is hardly surprising, given the rumours have been swirling for so long.

But the tone and disquiet is alarming. It wasn’t about the money – Arsenal had reportedly put together a package believed to be worth around £130,000 a week, which would have made him the best-paid player in Arsenal’s history.

Van Persie, at 28 years old, believes he cannot afford to remain at the Emirates – trophyless since 2005 – if he wants to win trophies during his career.

That’s a damning indictment on Wenger and a club that rallied to finish third in last season’s Barclays Premier League.

“Out of my huge respect for Mr Wenger, the players and the fans, I don’t want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal should move forward,” Van Persie said in a statement on his own website.

And so the vultures from both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Juventus, Barcelona, Milan, Paris Saint Germain, Bayern Munich – any club with ambition, really- have begun to circle.

Should the Dutch marksman move to one of Arsenal’s main rivals, it will further increase the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

The question is: where does this place Arsenal?

Wenger had brought in Olivier Giroud (top scorer in Ligue 1) and Lukas Podolski (100 caps for Germany) before selling Van Persie, but now they will have to replace his input (41 in 53 games for club and country last season) rather than complement it.

Clearly, neither signing resonated with RVP’s ambition for the club or inspired him to maintain the faith.

“I personally have had a great season, but my goal has been to win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days.”

Wenger has long been lauded as one of the game’s best managers, but after 16 years in London is it too much to ask him to re-build his team into realistic title challengers once again?

Contrary to perception, Wenger actually has money to spend. It is reported that even after those two signings, he has £50 million to splash out, not including any money he’ll reap from selling his captain.

But he is usually a man for a project, preferring to nurture players like Theo Walcott or Jack Wilshere. Even van Persie himself. Desperate times recently have called for desperate measures. Last year he hastily added Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, Park Chu-Young and Mikel Arteta to his squad, but that was with questionable success. It’s not the transfer strategy he prefers.

So will Wenger plump for short-term success, and resign himself to losing Van Persie on a free transfer in the hope that the Dutchman can concentrate and reproduce his heroics during his final season?

Unlikely. So until RVP is sold, Arsenal’s season will be distracted by the circus of the rumour mill.

And then, it will be interesting to see what Wenger will do with the money. Will he be tempted to join the queue for high profile strikers like Falcao, Hulk, Edin Dzeko, Edinson Cavani, Luuk de Jong, Clint Dempsey or Alan Dzagoev? Or will it provide Nicklas Bendtner a reason to remain and establish his bona fides?

It’s a crucial time at Arsenal. Wenger, and a club of that stature, will want to ensure Van Persie’s predictions are not correct and convince it’s stars they are not just a feeder to the bigger clubs.

Wenger’s long term philosophy and reliance on youth has tested the fans’ patience.

Clearly RVP’s patience simply ran out.

More here:
Arsenal’s captain curse strikes again