Defender Bacary Sagna is confident Arsenal can keep hold of captain and star striker Robin van Persie.

The Netherlands frontman is likely to be in demand following a season in which he scored 30 Premier League goals to fire the Gunners to third place.

But Sagna told the Daily Mirror: "I'm confident Robin will stay. He was a complete professional from the beginning until the end [of the season] and helped us into third.

We want to keep him. Everyone is so grateful to him for what he's done for the club and how important he is.
Bacary Sagna on Robin van Persie

"We want to keep him. Everyone is so grateful to him for what he's done for the club and how important he is. He is our captain and takes his role and responsibilities very seriously. He gives everything as a player and captain."

Manager Arsene Wenger is seeking to strengthen his squad early in the next transfer window as the club look to persuade Van Persie they can match his ambitions.

Germany forward Lukas Podolski has already been signed from Cologne, a move which pleased the full-back. "We want more players to come to the team," he said. "Lukas Podolski has arrived already and he is a German international and a quality player."