Arsenal: Arsene Wenger turning to Alexis Sanchez for bail

Arsene Wenger has stated that he needs and Alexis Sanchez to stay to help build a positive feeling around the club. The negativity, though, was encouraged by his own uncertainty last season. He is looking to the Arsenal star to bail him out.

There was a definite sense of negativity surrounding Arsenal in the latter half of last season. As their title challenge faded away, humiliation came in the Champions League and, ultimately, a top four position was squandered, there was a sense of uncertainty and doubt that had engulfed the club, creating a suffocating atmosphere in and around the team.

The biggest point of question was the future of Arsene Wenger. With his contract expiring at the end of the year and the pressure mounting from a growing section of the fan base, it was thought that Wenger may end his 20-year reign.

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However, it wasn’t until after the season had finished that a decision was made and publicly announced. Wenger always maintained that it did not affect the squad negatively, but after a more uplifting summer culminated in a Community Shield victory on Sunday, he has since admitted that, amid incessant questions asking whether Alexis Sanchez will stay or not, it may have been a mistake:

"“I cannot stop all the speculation but Sanchez is focused. For the 273rd time, yes [he will stay after 31 August]. We are here a lot today because of players like Sanchez and Ozil so I wanted them to be part of it. It’s down to us to put a positive atmosphere around the team. A lot was created by my own situation. Maybe I made a mistake. Overall I believe that it’s down to us. The trend has always to come from the team.”"

The positive atmosphere that Wenger alludes to is important. Thanks to the (marginally) greater ambition shown in the transfer window, the FA Cup win and now the Community Shield triumph, there has been an element of optimism and anticipation conjured up for the year ahead.

Keeping Sanchez, with or without a new contract, would only further that positive feeling. But the uptick in the atmosphere has been forced because of Wenger’s initial mistake. Had he and the board been decisive and clear regarding his future, then perhaps all the hard work of the past few months in changing the spirits would not have been as necessary.

Wenger is now turning to Sanchez to bail him out of the consequences of his own mistake. If Sanchez does stay and does commit himself early on next season, then the fans will continue to forgive, at least a little, Wenger’s past mistakes. If he leaves or does not play with fire and heart, then Wenger will be heavily criticised once again.

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Whether Arsenal can win the league or not, is a question that only time will tell. They certainly have to get lucky. But if the likes of Sanchez stay, then their chances will only improve and the positivity will only grow, even in spite of Wenger’s poor management choices last season.

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