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RvP urges Wenger to spend big

Robin van Persie will hope Arsene Wenger was listening to what he had to say © PA Photos

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Robin van Persie has called on Arsene Wenger to open the chequebook to ensure Arsenal do not slip into Premier League mediocrity.

Arsenal have flattered to deceive for a number of years and Wenger's side are in danger of being broken up with Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas seemingly heading for the exit door.

Striker Gervinho has arrived, but there has been no sign of a keeper or powerful defender being brought in to bolster Arsenal's fragile back line.

And Van Persie is concerned by the prospect of Arsenal being left behind by their major rivals.

"The way I feel now is that a few signings are more than welcome," Van Persie told the Daily Mail. "Every other team is buying quality players, so hopefully we will do the same.

"You need investment to keep up. When you look around, you see Manchester City are buying loads of good players, Liverpool are doing it now and Manchester United have been doing it for years.

"In a way, you need to keep that up because if everyone is doing something you need to do it as well. I think it's a good thing that we have competition because no one really wants to go to sleep.

"In an ideal world, no one (should be) really sure of his place (in the team). Maybe the captain and the goalkeeper but all the other players shouldn't really know before that they will play. It's always good to have competition and be on your toes.

"These days, proper players cost money. Sometimes you see players go for loads of money and you think, 'Is he that good?' They are, most of the time, but sometimes there can be a statement for the others as well.

"The main thing is, it is not just a label, a multi-million pound signing. It's about the quality. If you buy a player who has got one year left, normally he's not going to be worth 40 or 50 million, he'll be a bit less."

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