By Liv Lee

PUBLISHED: 06:36 EST, 12 January 2013 | UPDATED: 06:36 EST, 12 January 2013

The fans may hate him, but it seems the club management are not quite ready to let him go.

When Arsenal released the 2013 club diary, they inexplicably included pictures of Robin van Persie being embraced by his former Arsenal teammates. Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are seen joining the striker in celebration after one of his 96 goals for the club.

This was, of course, before his 22.5million transfer to Manchester United at the end of last season.
Some of the ardent fans who bought the diary at 4.99 a pop were dismayed to find that the striker was pictured in it.

Star player: Van Persie is the Premier League's top-scorer so far this season, with 16 goals to his name

One supporter, who received the diary as a Christmas gift from his wife, said that he binned it immediately.

'Can you imagine? Having to see his smiling face every day for the next year while he's banging in goals for Manchester United,' Gunners fan John Crossley, told The Sun.

'It would be a constant reminder. It would kill me.'

The builder from Sidcup said that he told his wife that her present was unfortunately redundant.

'Obviously I wanted to look pleased because my wife had bought it for me, but I just had to say, 'I'm sorry, love, I can't use that'.'

Since moving to Old Trafford last summer, 29-year-old Van Persie has excelled, netting 16 goals in the Premier League to lead the top scorer charts. Arsenal's top scorer is currently Theo Walcott, who is further down the list with eight goals so far this season.

The Dutchman's form has helped United cruise to the top of the table, while Arsenal are sitting in sixth place.

The explanation offered by the club was that the diaries had been printed months in advance and had therefore been designed and completed before the summer transfer.

'Due to its production time scale the product itself was signed off prior to the 2012 summer transfer window,' said a spokesperson from stationary specialists Danilo, who make the diary.

Despite complaints, the diary is still available for 5 on the club website.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Quite mean on his wife! i feel sorry for her because when she bought it she probably thought that he would really like it! Just hush up and put on a happy face for her!

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History seems to be the only thing Arsenal seem to hold on to these days, that includes the manager and the board except usmanov who i would love to see take this club by the scruff of the neck and give is a massive shake until Gizzi, Kroenke, Hill-Wood and Wenger all fall out into the great void known as arrogant mediocrity, this club is slowly becoming unsupportable, Champagne stadium, champagne costs with beer team. Maybe the supporters will truly support the club again when the club learns to respect them instead of stealing from their pockets and breaking their hearts with lies and deceit.

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Two possible scenarios for tomorrow's game. 1.We win. Whinger commends the winning character of the boys. Whinger refuses to sign any player to strengthen the squad. We lose even the 4th place placebo,below spuds.2.We lose disastrously. WHinger signs a player or two,in panic,in the mould of a cross between Chammakh and Bendtner. We lose even the 4th place placebo,below spuds. Find the common denominator .

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it's a glitch in the matrix

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childish...... move on and support the rest of the team!

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would it be he is part of their history?

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So what....

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Rubbing salt on the wound. But I believe this is where Arsenal fans could show their disgust by not buying the diaries. Then the club would end up with thousands of unsold useless diaries rather than a reprint that could have been well accepted and sold out even if in the end, the club breaks even rather than profiting from it. Arsenal fans really need to start voting where it hurts the club...it's pockets!!!

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he scored 132 goals not 96 get the facts right

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lead is to victory in the CL and PL. He was never a Arsenal player originally anyway. Three trophies coming our way this year. Also pretty sure Man City offered RvP more money a week but he joined United still. - goldeneye , Manchester, 12/1/2013 13:53 ================================= Just kinda making it up as you type are you?? Man City never put in an official offer for RvP AND you are not going to win the CL. I will be very surprised if you even get past RM. Don't get ahead of yourself there big fella.I suppose if Rooney ever wants to leave you'll claim he was always Man.U. Everton won't come into it.

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