Robin Van Persie gets huge pay rise after agreeing new Arsenal contract - Exclusive

Robin Van Persie has agreed a new, double-your-money contract with Arsenal - and is set to sign it by the end of the week.

The 25-year-old Dutch striker will receive the huge pay rise and pledge his future to the club until 2012.

Van Persie's salary will double to around £70,000 a week and is further proof of manager Arsene Wenger's intention to keep the nucleus of his young squad together.

Wenger has already ensured that Cesc Fabregas is tied to Arsenal until 2014 and talks are on-going to secure the long-term future of new England star Theo Walcott.

Like Walcott, Van Persie has 18 months left on his present agreement.

Wenger and the club are determined there will be no repeat of key players leaving the club on free transfers at the end of their contract.

Last summer combative midfield player Mathieu Flamini joined AC Milan as a free agent and Wenger has acted to prevent both Van Persie and Walcott from leaving.