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Football London
Football London
Sport
Lee Wilmot

Robin van Persie makes surprise Man United admission that will make Arsenal fans fume

Robin van Persie does not have too many fans left at Arsenal.

The Dutch striker drew the ire of the Gunners supporters when he left the Emirates to sign for Manchester United in 2012, claiming he was listening to the "little boy inside me who was screaming for Manchester United".

Van Persie notched 26 league goals the following season to fire United to the Premier League title - something he had failed to do at Arsenal - justifying the move.

But as Arsenal's captain and scorer of 132 goals in eight seasons, the fans never forgave him for refusing to sign a new contract and forcing the move to United, much less so when he came out with the "little boy" comment about his dream to play for United.

Art de Roche's full Arsenal Q&A

Van Persie apologised at the end of his career, saying: "At crucial moments you have to make tough decisions.

“Sometimes you feel like you need a challenge and new adventure. If I hurt people I’m sorry. I made that decision and I stand by it.”

And what the Dutch striker has said now will not go down too well with the Arsenal supporters either.

In an interview with Star Sports Football, van Persie was asked which was his favourite shirt - the number 10 he wore at Arsenal or the number 20 he donned at United.

And while 10 is a more significant number, what happened at United had more of an "impact" for the Dutchman.

He replied: "I have to make a decision?

"The number 10, the number itself is nicer than 20, it's just the story with it that makes it special, so I will have to go with 20, because that story has more impact."

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