The two sides come together on Sunday in the latest iteration of one of the Premier League’s all-time rivalries. However, there is a slightly different feel this time amid Arsenal’s floundering title challenge, as well as United’s woeful form under Ruben Amorim.
Van Persie, who enjoyed spells at both Old Trafford and the Emirates, is a divisive figure having quit Arsenal for United in 2012. But he is refusing to ruffle any more feathers.
Speaking to ESPN, the Dutchman was asked who he preferred between his former teammates Wayne Rooney or Thierry Henry. But he simply answered: “Pass because they’re both so different and very good.”
He was then asked to pick out one of his legendary bosses Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson, but again had a similar answer. Van Persie said: “Definitely both,” while he had a similar answer to a choice of either Arsenal or Man United.
Van Persie’s indecision even boiled down to the two team’s respective rivals Manchester City and Spurs, with the former striker exhaling in disgust before passing on the question. Van Persie scored 132 goals in 278 games for Arsenal before a controversial move to United, where he won the Premier League in his debut season.
And despite backlash at the move, it was revealed by Arsene Wenger that Van Persie wanted to move back to North London. Speaking about the pair’s relationship, he said: "In 2012, he announced his intention not to extend his contract. All the big clubs were courting him. I sold him to Manchester United.
"The supporters were angry with me for this but we could not match the offer. I managed to negotiate his departure for £24 million, which was a huge amount at the time for a player with a year left on his contract. I had only the interest of the club in mind.
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"My relationship with Alex Ferguson and Manchester United had improved by then, but every transfer is a polite game of poker where you attempt to give not anything away.
"Van Persie had a fantastic first six months at Old Trafford: he put the team on track for the Premiership title and made it even more difficult for us."
Wenger added: "After three years of the four that he signed for, he was injured and Van Gaal sold him to the Turkish club Fenerbahce.
"He called me because he wanted to come back, but it was impossible: he was at the end of his career and we were investing in young players."
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