Arsenal, Arsene Wenger And Alexis Sanchez: Defiant Or Deluded?

Arsene Wenger has stated that he expects Alexis Sanchez to stay with Arsenal. Are his comments defiant, or is he merely deluded?

The futures of Arsene Wenger, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have been the driving narratives of this turbulent and tempestuous season. While Wenger may have privately decided his own future, that being that he is set to stay as Arsenal manager for at least another season, neither Ozil nor Sanchez have many any public indication that they are set to leave or stay.

From the external perspective that this mere blogger must peek through, it is a case of reading the tea leaves. And tea leaves suggest that Sanchez is wanting to leave. He has grown increasingly frustrated throughout the season, has suffered a training ground bust up and sees his winning desperation seemingly unmatched by the club.

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That, though, is not the viewpoint of Wenger. When asked about whether he sees Sanchez staying in North London, Wenger was confident that the Chilean has the desire to stay and suggested that the only issues are simply contractual, and that he believes they will be ironed out:

"“He is happy here. His desire is as well to stay. That is what I deeply believe. The disagreements are more purely contractual. Not on the desire. Both parties have the desire to find an agreement, so I think it will happen. We want to be as strong as we can be and not strengthen the other team. But I think he will stay here and sign a contract.”"

Now, I am not here to state that I know better Wenger, that I can predict the future better that the man at the centre of many of the key decisions made. But, Wenger has a history of making predictions regarding the future of his players, predictions that tend to not come true.

Before the summer of 2011, Wenger testified that both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri would remain with the club: “Yes [I expect Cesc to stay]”; “Samir Nasri is committed to stay at the club.” By September, both had left.

Fast forward a year, and the same uncertainty engulfed Robin van Persie. Wenger stated: “He [van Persie] will stay at Arsenal.” By September, he had signed for Manchester United, and within his first season, had fired Sir Alex Ferguson to the Premier League title that allowed him to retire on top.

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I expect Sanchez to leave the Emirates this summer. Wenger, though, is far more recalcitrant in his assessment. Is that defiance or is that delusion? Only time will tell.

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