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Arsene Wenger should be careful who he gives the captain’s armband to next.

The Emirates boss has sold four captains in the last seven years and Robin van Persie’s departure sadly confirms Arsenal to be a selling club.

Since Patrick Vieira left in 2005, the Gunners have allowed a steady and worrying flow of world-class talent to leave north London.

Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas were the next to be sold after wearing the armband, and now van Persie.

Wenger admitted on French TV: “It’s sad to lose a player of his quality. He had a year left on his deal, so we didn’t have the choice.”

But of all the recent sales, the Holland striker’s deal is perhaps the most devastating.

Arsenal used to compete with Manchester United for the title. Now they sell them their best player.

The shift of power is there for all to see.

The list of big-name departures since the glorious Invincibles era, when Arsenal last won the title in 2004, is even more frightening.

Pires. Ljungberg. Campbell. Cole. Toure - to name but a few.

Wenger used to be a manager who was all about building teams with flair, big names and winning trophies.

These days, the Frenchman is expected to be a mixture of accountant and miracle worker - yet another summer, yet another rebuilding job.

(Image: Getty)

There is no getting away from the fact, that since Arsenal moved to their magnificent new ­Emirates stadium in 2006, they have sold all of their big names in steady succession and not won a single trophy.

So much for their modern 60,000-seater home allowing them to compete with the Premier League’s big guns.

And, sadly, van Persie is just the latest player to become ­frustrated and fed-up with Arsenal’s philosophy and lack of trophies.

The 29-year-old is going to Manchester United for a bigger contract – worth around £200,000 a week – but, more significantly, to win trophies.

Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Adebayor have all gone to Manchester City for bigger money in recent years and the Gunners’ fans were happy to dismiss them as mercenaries.

But when the initial anger subsides over van Persie’s departure, there will surely be a realisation that the Dutchman did not believe he could win anything at Arsenal.

They used to be all conquering, but have now become also-rans.

Van Persie caused uproar with his public statement last month, questioning the club’s ­direction and insisting he would not sign a new ­Emirates deal.

It has proved to be a step which eventually served its purpose – it forced Arsenal to sell a player who would have left on a free transfer next summer.

When United eventually pushed the fee up to beyond £20million, it was a real no-brainer.

Van Persie had to go.

But while Arsenal have spent more than £30m to bring in top class ­international talent this summer – Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla – they sold their top scorer, skipper and talisman.

Two steps forward, three steps back.

(Image: Reuters)

Wenger is having to rebuild after another summer of selling his best player.

Only in football could you question a manager who runs a tight ship, making financial decisions alongside football decisions.

But the fans are frustrated at the club being run like a business.

Arsenal take great pride in balancing the books and even after an extravagant summer by their ­standards, they could still end up being in profit.

Van Persie has gone and midfielder Alex Song could be next if Barcelona agree to pay a fee in excess of £15m.

The Song deal is Arsenal’s choice, but it cannot hide the fact that it would leave them nearly £10m in profit on their summer transfer dealings.

That shows good business, but try telling that to the fans who have waited seven years for a trophy.

Furthermore, Arsenal have some of Europe’s highest ticket prices. But while they charge Harrods prices, they go bargain ­shopping.

Those deals prove Wenger still has an eye for a player.

Van Persie arrived eight years ago for just £2.75m. He leaves for nearly TEN times that.

But Gunners fans don’t want healthy profit margins. They want trophies.

And while you sell your best players to your biggest rivals, you will never compete.