RVP factfile

A look at the life and career of Robin van Persie as he decides not to extend his Arsenal contract.

Arsenal are to decide whether to cash in on striker Robin van Persie after their captain insisted he had to leave the Emirates Stadium to win trophies. Holland international Van Persie has issued a statement revealing he will not be penning an extension to his current deal with the Gunners, which expires next summer. We look at his life and career. 1983: Born August 6 in Rotterdam. Plays for Excelsior Rotterdam and Feyenoord youth teams and capped by Holland at under-19 and under-21 level. 2002: January - Signs three-and-a-half-year deal with Feyenoord. Drafted into the first-team squad because of injury shortages at the age of 18. February 21 - Features as a 57th-minute substitute in UEFA Cup fourth-round, first-leg clash against Rangers. Plays from the start in the 3-2 second leg win at home which booked his team's progress. May 8 - Plays in Feyenoord's 3-2 UEFA Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund in Rotterdam. Voted the Dutch PFA's Best Young Talent for 2001-02. Suffers a back injury which kept him in plaster over the summer of 2002 but was fit for the start of the new season. 2002-03: Ends the season with eight goals from 28 games as Feyenoord finish runners-up in the Dutch Cup. Played twice in the Champions League. 2004: January 20 - Feyenoord reveal they have rejected a bid for Van Persie from Arsenal. Makes 32 appearances for Feyenoord, scoring six goals. April 28: Arsenal reveal they have signed Van Persie on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee. August 8 - Makes his debut as a substitute in the 3-1 FA Community Shield win over Manchester United. October 27 - Scores on his competitive debut, a 2-1 League Cup win over Manchester City. 2005: June 4 - Makes Holland debut in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Romania. 2006: January 4 - Signs new five-year contract with the club but two days later suffers a foot injury against Cardiff. June - Played in all four of Holland's matches at the World Cup. 2007: January 21 - Season ended by a broken foot suffered against Manchester United. 2009: January 3 - Captains Arsenal for the first time in the absence of Cesc Fabregas and Manuel Almunia. July 8: After several months of talks and with his existing deal entering its final year, signs a new four-year contract. November 14 - After another strong start to the season, injures his ankle on international duty, ruling him out for five months. 2010: Misses two months at the start of the season with an ankle injury. July 11 - Plays in the World Cup final as Holland lose 1-0 to Spain. 2011: January 22 - Scores his first career hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Wigan. August 11 - Named Arsenal captain after the departure of Fabregas. September 2 - Scores four in Holland's record-breaking 11-0 win over San Marino. September 24 - Goal against Bolton takes his Arsenal tally to 100. December 31 - Scores in the 1-0 win over QPR to take his tally for the calendar year to 35, one short of Alan Shearer's Premier League record. 2012: April 22 - Named PFA Player of the Year. May 13 - Arsenal finish third in the Premier League with Van Persie netting 30 Premier League goals. July 4 - After scoring once in Holland's winless Euro 2012 campaign, reveals he will not be signing a new contract with the Gunners.