I was a legend at Arsenal but they won't take me back as a coach after what happened next

Former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has opened up about his future in coaching and feels he wouldn't be able to return to the Emirates Stadium. The Dutchman scored 132 goals from 278 appearances in North London across an eight-year spell before making a £24million move to Manchester United in 2015.

Unsurprisingly, Van Persie's stock fell significantly among the Gunners' faithful with that bitter feeling made worse by the fact he helped United win the Premier League in his first season at Old Trafford. Though he was part of the Arsenal side that won the 2005 FA Cup final, that trophy came just 12 months after he signed and he only played 34 minutes.

As such, he could not really claim a major role in that triumph, in comparison to being the driving forced behind United's Premier League title victory eight years later, having scored 26 goals. With his spell at Old Trafford coming later in his career, Van Persie only played three seasons in Manchester before joining Fenerbahce.

He later returned to boyhood club Feyenoord before retiring from professional football in 2019. In the years following, the 41-year-old headed into coaching and became the assistant to Dick Advocaat at his last club having helped the club's strikers in an unofficial role prior to that.

Van Persie has since carved his own path and was confirmed as the new head coach of Heerenveen back in May with his side currently sitting 12th despite having suffered a record-breaking 9-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar just a few months ago.

The legendary forward has recently been discussing his coaching journey with a return to Arsenal brought up, which saw him issue a brutally honest response. "Well, I don’t expect to work at Arsenal. I think that door is closed,” he told Sportcast, via FEAN Online and Sport Witness.

“Because of my switch to Manchester United, that is my assessment. You never know in football, but that is my assessment. It is still sensitive for them, not for me. It is especially sensitive for the Arsenal fans.

“I have learned that planning so far ahead makes no sense at all. I don’t want that either. I mainly live in the here and now. I really enjoy it here and I am very proud to be the coach of SC Heerenveen. I feel very welcome within the club and among the fans. I also think that is important that you feel welcome.”

Arsenal have a tendency to welcome back former players with open arms, as evidenced by Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker having roles at the Gunners. Edu Gaspar and Jack Wilshere, though both have recently departed, are also examples of that, but it seems that Van Persie would not expect the same treatment.

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