Dutch fitness coach Raymond Verheijen has blamed Arsenal’s training regime and injury treatment for Robin van Persie’s physical decline.
The former Arsenal captain spent eight seasons with the Gunners and though he has an impressive record of scoring 131 goals in 274 appearances, injuries and fitness concerns were part and parcel of his life under Arsene Wenger.
A stellar first season with Manchester United was followed by a couple of injury ravaged campaigns at Old Trafford and Verheijen feels Van Persie will never be the same player again.
The Dutchman has blamed Arsenal’s faulty training methods and poor injury management for Van Persie’s physical decline and said that the Netherlands captain’s only concern these days is to last the full 90 minutes in a match.
“In his time with Arsenal, Robin suffered great physical damage because of their training methods and injury treatment”, Verheijen told the Algemeen Dagblad.
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“In those years his body developed all kind of vulnerabilities, which gradually lowered his level of performances.
“Robin plays his game now with the intention of lasting the 90 minutes.”
Verheijen has been an open critic of Arsenal’s training methods and said last year had Cesc Fabregas stayed with the Gunners for a few more years, they would have destroyed his body too.
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