Andre Santos says he is not surprised by the interest in Arsenal captain Robin van Persie as the Dutch striker continues to stall on a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.

After scoring 30 Premier League goals last season and helping Arsenal qualify for the Champions League, Van Persie is yet to pen an extension to his current contract, which expires in the summer of 2013.

Any extension now appears likely to be discussed further after Euro 2012, where Van Persie is expected to play a primary role in Holland's attack, and Santos says any interest in the Gunners skipper is natural.

Robin van Persie
Van Persie is currently in negotiations with Arsenal. Reuters

"He's amazing," Santos told ESPN Brasil. "Besides being a great person, he is also one of my best friends at Arsenal. He is a guy who has given me full support.

"He is very intelligent on the pitch. He smashed the Premier League.

"It helped Arsenal get to where we are, in the Champions League spots, and I have no doubt that he will be one of the stars of Euro 2012.

"He has been at the club eight years and this was his best season.

"Sometimes, a player is interested in getting to know other teams and of course, playing well, he has attracted interest from many other teams. Of course your mind is affected.

"He is currently fully focused on the Euros and then, after, he can talk about whether he wants to stay with Arsenal."

Van Persie often proved to be Arsenal's match winner during a season which peaked and troughed both domestically and in Europe.

Despite reaching the Champions League for next season, Arsenal finished 19 points adrift in the race for the title, which Arsene Wenger's side failed to mount a serious challenge for, as their trophy drought continues.

While the signing of Lukas Podolski shows the club are keen to prepare for next season, Van Persie will need convincing that the club's ambition can match his own.

The Gunners will be wary of the upcoming European Championship working as a shop window for potential suitors of Van Persie, with a brace against Northern Ireland in Holland's final warm-up game proving the forward is ready to take his club form into major international competition.