• Premier League

RVP made the right choice - Moyes

ESPN staff
November 10, 2013
Robin van Persie has scored nine goals this season under David Moyes © Getty Images
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Robin van Persie will take centre-stage for Manchester United against Arsenal on Sunday, with David Moyes claiming the forward has no regrets about leaving the Emirates to move north.

Van Persie moved to Old Trafford in August 2012 for around £23 million and his goal haul helped United to the 2012-13 Premier League title. Now Arsenal sit top of the league - five points clear - after a fine start to the season, while Moyes' start to life as manager of the champions has been shaky. But the United boss believes his star striker made the right choice for his career.

"Robin was a great player at Arsenal, and he's come to Manchester United and been the same," Moyes said.

"I can understand Arsenal being a bit upset about that. Nobody wants to let their best players leave and Robin was undoubtedly one of Arsenal's best players. But his contract was running out, there was a situation where Arsenal had to act and Manchester United wanted him. Robin must have had strong views about wanting to join United at the time and I am sure he'd say he's made the right choice."

Arsenal travel to Old Trafford with eight wins and one draw from their last nine games, having just beaten Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in the Champions League. If they can continue their fine form then they could open up a surely unbridgeable 11-point lead over United, but Moyes will not be treating the game any different to the past.

"That [beating Dortmund] was a big test for them and they came through," Moyes said. "But Arsenal have always been a strong side to play against, I've never felt they were in decline. They have great stability and continuity. They haven't had too much disruption and I have great respect for the way Arsene Wenger has built his teams and how he's kept doing what he believes in. Over the years this has always been a big game between two sides with great players, and I don't see this being any different."

Sir Alex Ferguson often found success with a more physical style of play against Arsenal, but Moyes was insistent that this United team could match up in all departments.

"We used to get that at Everton as well," he added. "It wasn't a tactic as such, but at Everton we knew we had to be strong in standing up to Arsenal because they had such talented players. There were reasons why Everton played like that. At Manchester United, with the quality we have, we feel we can match what Arsenal have got."

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