Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has explained to fans why he visited the Barcelona team hotel last week. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has revealed he wanting a resolution before his captain joins up with the Holland squad at a training camp in Switzerland on May 17 - just 72 hours after the final Premier League game at West Brom.

Van Persie wrote in the Gunners' official matchday programme for their clash with Chelsea: "The explanation is really very simple. My very good friend Ibrahim Afellay plays for Barcelona.

"After a bad long-term injury, he was finally back with the team - and during his absence I had been in contact with him a lot, but I hadn't seen him.

"This was an opportunity for me to go and visit a close friend, show him my support and catch up.

"Unfortunately, this had to be at the hotel, because he was not permitted to leave it. I was wearing my Arsenal tracksuit and we sat down by the reception to have a chat and some food - everyone could see us and there was nothing to hide.

"I can't imagine anyone conducting transfer negotiations in these circumstances!"

The Holland star, who has just over a year left on his Arsenal contract, added: "The visit to the hotel was a social one and had nothing to do with the future of my career. I do have a social life next to football, even if my wife tells me that it sometimes doesn't seem that way!

"Nothing has changed in the sense that my intention remains to discuss my future in the summer."