Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted that the club had "no choice" but to agree to sell star player Robin van Persie to Manchester United.

Van Persie's contract is set to expire at the end of the season and Wenger has admitted that the risk of losing him for free left Arsenal with no option but to sell.

"He is at Manchester United, unfortunately for us. The transfer was finalised in the afternoon," Wenger told 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."

Van Persie was the Premier League's top scorer last season with 30 goals.