Arsenal: Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez critique enters dangerous territory

Martin Keown has stated that Arsenal should not indulge Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. While his critique of the duo is valid, it also enters dangerous territory.

The dominating narrative of the season has centred on the futures of three men: Arsene Wenger, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. While all of their respective fate’s are yet to be decided, entering the season, if you were to ask Arsenal fans, almost all would have wanted Sanchez and Ozil to stay, while the former was a much more divisive figure.

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But now, although Wenger persists to be a figure of great uncertainty and debate, Ozil and Sanchez are also. After a turbulent season in which questions over effort and consistency have been amalgamated with moments of sheer brilliance, whether you want Ozil and Sanchez to stay with the club beyond the summer and sign a new contract perhaps depends, primarily, on price and not productivity.

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For former Gooner Martin Keown, there is a watershed figure for which he would not trespass in attempting to secure the futures of both Sanchez and Ozil. Speaking as a columnist for the Daily Mail, Keown questioned the character of the two if they were indulged with the eyewatering wages that are being touted:

"“There can be problems if you over indulge them. When there was talk of Sanchez and Ozil wanting out, it coincided with Arsenal losing seven games in 12 and getting knocked out of the Champions League. Sanchez and Ozil downed tools during those games. There is a fear that if Arsenal give them ridiculous sums of money to stay, they could throw their toys out of the pram once more when things go wrong.”"

I, though, I am here to give a tale of caution. While I agree with Keown that reservations must be had regarding the motivation and commitment of the duo, especially in the biggest games, when they are enjoying bumper pay packets, there is also an element of disparity in quality that must be considered when concluding whether the club should or should not pursue a long-term agreement.

As proven in recent weeks with a number of, while inconsistent, performances which have produced moments of sheer quality to unpick opposing defences, both Ozil and Sanchez are miles and away the most talented attackers in this squad. Sanchez, for example, has been involved in 33 goals in the Premier League this season, more than any other player in the country, and Ozil has registered 41 league assists since his debut, again, more than anyone else during that period.

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Although Arsenal should be held to ransom over the wage demands of the two players, and they should be willing to move on from them if they see fit, Keown’s critique of the duo is entering a dangerous territory, a territory which we have, painfully, seen before, where the best players leave and replacements are not found.