Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger insists the Gunners were left with "no choice" but to sell their captain Robin van Persie to Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side confirmed on Wednesday night they had agreed a fee, thought to be £23m, for the Dutch striker who is expected to undergo a medical on Thursday and finalise terms.

"He is at Manchester United, unfortunately for us. The transfer was finalised in the afternoon," said Wenger while working for the French TV station TF1.

"It's never great to lose players of that quality but he only had a year contract so we do not have a choice.

"We have already recruited since we bought [Olivier] Giroud and [Lukas] Podolski who originally were intended to offset the departure of van Persie," he concluded.

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  • When you were young, 2004

  • Debut, 2004 Community Shield

  • Goal number one vs. City in the League Cup

  • Complemented by the Clock

  • The red mist at St Mary's, 2005

  • A semi-final brace at Cardiff, 2005

  • Aiming high to score in the 2005 FA Cup final shootout

  • A second red

  • A superb solo strike against Blackburn, 2005

  • Charlton, 2006. His greatest goal?

  • A sorry sight of yesteryear

  • "One day, we <em>will</em> get on well."

  • "This counts as a major trophy, right?"

  • Sent off for violent conduct at Stoke. Irony lurks

  • Three against Wigan, 2011

  • 2011 League Cup final scorer...

  • but still a loser to Birmingham

  • A ridiculous red in the Camp Nou

  • Celebrating a trio at Chelsea during the epic 5-3

  • Hat-trick vs. Blackburn

  • Downing Liverpool with a double

  • Uncool with Krul

  • PFA Player of the Year, 2012

  • Bidding goodbye at the Hawthorns