Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirms desire to resolve Robin van Persie future swiftly

Robin van Persie (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reiterated his desire to keep Robin van Persie, but wants the captain's future sorted one way or the other by the start of the new Barclays Premier League season.

The 28-year-old Holland striker announced after the European Championship that he would not be renewing his current deal at the Emirates Stadium, which expires at the end of next term, and questioned the club's ambitions.

Speaking in Malaysia at the start of the Gunners' pre-season tour, Wenger said at a press conference: "We are very, very ambitious. You know that. Not only very ambitious, but also very proud of the way we run our club.

"Van Persie is a world-class striker and I am a big supporter of him. I have supported him through his whole career. He has one year left and is in demand but our desire is to keep him.

"However, we will do what is in best interest of the club. If you have a decoder in your head you can decode that."

Wenger will no doubt be keen to avoid a repeat of last year, when both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas were sold towards the end of the summer transfer window.

"The official transfer deadline is August 31 but then we can create an internal deadline," the Frenchman said.

Asked if that was before the new campaign kicks off, he replied: "Of course. I believe the transfer market should stop before the season starts anyway."

PA