Robin Van Persie’s announcement has left Arsenal supporters’ world’s left upside down.
But in one country particularly, Arsenal fans will be feeling especially let down by the club.
Arsenal is Nigeria’s most popular club, with millions of fans in the African country – attributed to the ‘Kanu effect’.
The striker joined Arsenal at his peak in 1999 from Inter Milan, and his legacy is a new legion of fanatical supporters for the club.
So committed, that their support was recognised by Arsenal, who at the beginning of the month agreed to take the team to the country’s capital city, Abuja.
They were due to play a friendly there on August 5 against the Nigerian national team, sparking a frenzied ‘gold rush’ for tickets.
When that announcement was made – life was very positive for the country’s Gunners fans.
Now 24 hours after club captain and star player Robin Van Persie declared his intention not to renew his contract, Arsenal cancelled their planned tour of Nigeria.
The club stated: “We could not get comfortable on everything needed to satisfy our requirements, so we have reluctantly taken the decision to postpone the team’s visit.”, adding it was ‘logistically complex’.
It would have been the club’s first visit to Africa since visiting South Africa way back in 1993.
Arsenal did add they wanted to make it up to the club’s ‘loyal’ following by making plans to visit the country next summer, with more time to plan properly.
By that stage, Robin Van Persie certainly won’t be there, and with players rumoured to be following him out of the door including Theo Walcott, fans will be entitled to wonder what type of Arsenal side will appear before them in a year’s time.
But even in this time of uncertainty for the club, the supporters remain as keen as ever, and you can guarantee next summer’s match – should it take place – be a sellout, no matter who is on the pitch wearing an Arsenal shirt.
Were Arsenal right to announce their visit and then cancel it one week later?
images: © Arsenal FC, © wonker, © P-A-S-T
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