Robin van Persie is gradually coming around to staying with Arsenal.

The Daily Star says the Dutchman has been hugely impressed by efforts made to boost the Gunners squad, which was strengthened further yesterday by the capture of Spain international Santi Carzola.

The winger, who can also play in central midfield, is understood to have cost just £12.65m, with ­Arsenal taking advantage of ­Malaga's financial ­problems to snap him up.

Carzola joined up with Arsenal yesterday and is set to go to the club's training camp in Germany next week, with Arsene Wenger's men playing a friendly against Cologne tomorrow week.

He will be joined on the trip by Van Persie, with the club becoming increasingly optimistic he can be persuaded to abandon his plans to move.

It is understood the Gunners skipper, who still has ­Arsenal in his heart, has also been less than ­impressed by the way ­suitors Manchester City, ­Manchester United and ­Juventus have dragged their feet in negotiations.