Arsene Wenger continues to make the headlines for obvious reasons – Arsenal’s poor results as of late and of course his contract situation, so much so that it has taken the spotlight off the futures of both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
The Arsenal duo’s contracts are both set to expire at the end of next season and talks over a new deal seem to have taken a backseat for the minute. Recent reports have suggested that both will not accept anything less than £300,000-a-week to commit to Arsenal, while other media outlets claim if Wenger stays on as Arsenal manager next season and beyond both will leave this summer.
So, what should Arsenal do with Sanchez and Ozil? Both are arguably the club’s best two players but with no signs of either putting pen to paper on a new deal, it leaves the Gunners in a predicament this summer. Wenger has previously stated that no matter whether they sign contract extensions both will be at Arsenal until their deals expire. However, the club will then lose both stars for nothing that summer, and it’s a risk they shouldn’t have to take.
Sanchez has cut a frustrated figure recently and rightly so to some degree, and it appears he has had enough at Arsenal, while Ozil has channelled his inner Houdini by being in and out of the team in recent games, despite being fit at times. Both have reportedly rejected contract offers from the club ranging from £180,000 to £280,000-a-week depending on what you read, and it appears the club are not keen to break their wage budget to make them stay. No one knows what is going on, but the board, Wenger, whoever makes the decision must sort this out and quick. If the club are not prepared to pay them what they want then why not recoup some money back from their sale? There is absolutely no point of keeping a player at the club who doesn’t want to be there, no matter how good he is. By the end of the season, if they haven’t signed on the dotted line, then Arsenal should just move them on and press on with other matters at hand at the club.
I don’t know what goes on behind closed doors, but from what I have seen on the pitch as of late, it’s not healthy. And the sooner this matter is resolved the better for all.
