Arsenal hero Martin Keown feels the club has been deflated by Robin van Persie's sale to Manchester United.
Keown wrote in the Daily Mail: "If you'd have said a year ago that Robin van Persie would join Manchester United, I would have laughed.
"Players have left for the lure of Barcelona and the riches of Manchester City but not United - not the team Arsenal have so long considered their rivals.
"Seeing their captain and top goalscorer leave for Old Trafford will hurt the fans and Arsene Wenger. Van Persie was adored and cherished by those Arsenal supporters.
"He was their leader, captain and top goalscorer. It seems every summer now Arsenal lose world-class players - they have become a donor to other clubs.
"The Emirates was supposed to be the promised land but the club is losing players.
"That is so hard for the fans because it's difficult to retain any excitement.
"It's a long way from the fantasy football Manchester City have experienced in the transfer market in the past few years or how United will feel after signing Van Persie."
