Patrice Evra reveals how Robin van Persie slammed Arsenal’s work ethic when he joined Man United

Patrice Evra has revealed Robin van Persie was shocked by the difference in work ethic between Manchester United and Arsenal when he joined the Red Devils in 2012.

The Dutch striker made the controversial move to leave Arsenal after going seven years without winning a trophy, and opted to join their title rivals at Old Trafford.

At the time, Arsenal were trying to keep pace with both Manchester clubs, but Evra has claimed Van Persie noticed one major issue holding the Gunners back straight away. 

Speaking about Van Persie’s first impressions of United, Evra told the Vibe with Five YouTube channel: ‘Robin, he’d say: “Patrice, I’ve never seen people so professional. Training the way you’re training in the training session”. 

‘He’d say he’d finish the training session, everyone is in the gym. Before training in the gym, after training in the gym.

Patrice Evra (left) has revealed Robin van Persie was critical of Arsenal’s work ethic when he joined Man United

Evra has explained how Sir Alex Ferguson treated Van Persie differently in order to keep him fit

Van Persie repaid Ferguson’s faith by playing a decisive role in United’s title win in 2012-13

‘That’s why he was like “when I was playing at Arsenal, I was still on the pitch and I’d see kids with convertible cars already going to Harrods or whatever.”‘

Van Persie was Arsenal’s main man during his final years at the Emirates, taking over that mantle from Thierry Henry when he departed the club to join Barcelona in 2007.

He was trusted with leading a young side containing plenty of young English talent including Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs, as well as exciting prospects from abroad such as Wojciech Szczesny, Francis Coquelin and Carlos Vela.

Van Persie shone under Arsene Wenger, and had his best-ever goalscoring season in 2011-12 when he netted 30 league goals to win his first Golden Boot.

Yet Arsenal still only finished third that year, 19 points behind Manchester City.

This led to Van Persie looking for opportunities elsewhere, and he eventually agreed to switch to United on the eve of the 2012-13 season.

Van Persie made a huge impact in his maiden campaign at United, scoring 26 league goals to take the Golden Boot once again as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side won the title by 11 points.

Arsenal could only finish fourth, 16 points adrift of the champions.

Van Persie was a senior player at Arsenal, helping younger players like Thomas Vermaelen (second left), Cesc Fabregas (second right) and Carlos Vela (right)

Van Persie grew frustrated with Arsenal’s lack of success and moved on to United in 2012

Evra agrees with Van Persie that United’s players all trained exceptionally hard under Ferguson, but has explained how the Scot would go easy on Van Persie as he knew how decisive he would be on matchdays.

‘I don’t know if you remember, the way Ferguson managed Van Persie,’ Evra said, addressing former team-mate Rio Ferdinand.

‘He knows we are animals, if someone doesn’t train we are going to say he doesn’t deserve to play. 

But with Van Persie he said “guys, this guy he won’t (be) training every day. Sometimes he’s going to be on the side training with his own physio. But I have to manage his injury. But this guy is going to win the league for us.”‘