Wenger says Van Persie will be the last player he sells to United.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he will not sell any more players to Manchester United, after watching Robin van Persie score against his team for the second time this season.
Van Persie was part of the title-winning Manchester United side given a guard of honour by Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
The Dutch striker, 29, finished top scorer in the Premier League last season for the Gunners but left to join rivals Manchester United in a £24m deal, and again tops the scoring charts after a fine campaign in front of goal.
Van Persie scored against Arsenal in Manchester United’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford in November and equalised from the penalty spot on Sunday, after Theo Walcott handed the hosts an early lead.
Asked after the match if United boss Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign any more of his players, Wenger told the Daily Telegraph: “I don’t know but he will not sign them from us.”
Van Persie’s every touch was booed by the home support but Wenger said the Dutchman was welcomed into the Arsenal dressing room after the final whistle.
“He [Van Persie] is in our dressing room because the food is better in our dressing room,” joked Wenger.
“I didn’t talk to him. I just saw that when I moved out of my office that he was with the players. We are rivals but look, at the end of the day, we decided to sell him. You want us to make a guard of honour and to respect the champions but you have to accept as well that respect exists after the game.
“You want to give absolutely everything for the 90 minutes and after the game you can still talk to each other. I think our defenders didn’t make life easy for him at all. We played with great commitment.”
Wenger did, however, argue that Van Persie’s penalty should not be regarded with the same significance as a goal from open play, even though the forward won the spot-kick himself after a rash challenge from Bacary Sagna.
“I don’t think he scored, he scored a penalty,” said Wenger. “It counts but it’s not completely the same. When you buy a goalscorer you always look how many goals he scored with penalties.”
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