Arsene Wenger: 'I wanted Robin van Persie to go abroad'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that it was painful to sell Robin van Persie to Manchester United this summer.

The Dutch striker moved to Old Trafford for £24m in August and Wenger has revealed that he would have preferred the 29-year-old to have left England instead of joining their rivals.

Wenger said: "You have to accept it, it's part of life. Obviously, it hurts to see him in another shirt.

"I'd have preferred him to go to a foreign club, so that he doesn't haunt us."

Arsenal face Montpellier in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.