Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will not be sold during the winter transfer window.
The winger-midfielder pair is in the last few months of their time at Emirates Stadium with their contract expiring in June 2018. Both players have been linked with a move away from London. Sanchez is heavily linked to Manchester City after the move fell apart in summer transfer window. Ozil is rumored to be Barcelona’s target as the Catalans are in search of a midfielder.
But the Arsenal manager is confident about both players finishing this season at Arsenal as he ruled out selling them in January just to make the profit. Alexis Sanchez scored a late penalty against Burnley to win all 3 points for the Gunners but Ozil missed out due to illness. Wenger’s men will be back in action against Huddersfield in the midweek EPL game.
The 68-year-old was recently asked if the pair will be at the Emirates Stadium on 1st February. During his pre-match conference, the French manager said“Yes, of course. That is what we said many times. I do not think every day about that. At the moment I think, as long as they are here, they have to give their best for the team and for the club. In my head, they stay until the end of the season”
Chelsea 2-3 Burnley
Tottenham 1-1 Burnley
Liverpool 1-1 BurnleyBurnley 0-1 #Arsenal
Three hard-earned points for the Gunners ??? pic.twitter.com/vxAGDqAbLf
— ARSENAL (@tomgunner14) November 26, 2017
The manager also wants Ozil and Sanchez to sign new contracts but he knows that it’s not just his decision to make. “I am not the only one who can decide that. They have a part to play in that as well but, if it is my decision, yes.”
Jack Wilshere will also be out of contract in June 2018 and Wenger further added about Wilshere’s situation. “If I think his best interest is to stay here, then I will absolutely fight 100 percent for him to stay because he’s a guy who is top quality and is back fit now.”
Author’s Take:
Ozil and Sanchez are Arsenal’s most important players right now without any doubt. They have shown it in the recent games in EPL. Ozil, Sanchez, and Lacazette have also shown the signs of a deadly combination against Spurs and they need to continue it for the rest of the season. The club might miss out on some cash by not selling them in January but it will only help Arsenal’s performance. The Gunners need both of them to finish in top four this season.
