Former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen admits he was disappointed when Robin van Persie left the club to join Manchester United.

Van Persie was Vermaelen's teammate at the Emirates in 2012 when he made the fateful decision to join their fierce rivals.

"It was a surprise he left," Vermaelen told Arsenal's official podcast.

"I knew he was going to go eventually but to hear that he'd all of a sudden left for Manchester United was a big surprise.

"I wanted him to stay at Arsenal of course, because in his last season with us he was the PFA Player of the Year. He had a great season, the best season of his career, so I wanted him to stay and be a legend.

"Of course, he's strong in his character so he couldn't change his mind. I think that's a good thing because that makes him the person and player he is. You couldn't change his mind, he'd made it up that he was going to go."