• Premier League

Szczesny confident of RVP stay

ESPN staff
February 28, 2012
Robin van Persie helped inspire Arsenal's comeback victory against Tottenham at the weekend © Getty Images
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Robin van Persie will only be at his "very best" if he stays at Arsenal, according to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Skipper Van Persie has almost single-handedly dragged the Gunners out of the doldrums this season, scoring 23 goals in 26 Premier League appearances. But his contract is up in summer 2013 and there are rumours he will leave for the Etihad Stadium or Camp Nou in a few months.

Van Persie has put talks over a new deal on hold until the end of the present campaign, as he wants to focus on securing fourth spot in the league. And Szczesny is optimistic that he will still be playing alongside the Netherlands international next season.

"We don't discuss his contract with him," he said. "But I'm personally confident that he will stay at Arsenal. That is where he belongs and that is where he is at his very best."

Meanwhile, Szczesny has suggested Spurs may suffer a late-season collapse after being beaten in such dramatic fashion against Arsenal at the weekend. The White Hart Lane outfit were 2-0 up in the first half and apparently cruising, but went on to lose 5-2.

"After what we have done, we believe we can challenge Tottenham," he said. "We have the momentum. Will there be psychological effects for them? As an Arsenal fan, I hope so. I said ages ago that we can't realistically win the Premier League any more - but now my main ambition is to finish above Tottenham.

"You can see that we are not any worse than them and when we have the momentum and are on the front foot, we are very dangerous. I hope we can use that to our advantage and get the momentum to start challenging."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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