Arsenal: Lack of contract movement tells us everything

There has been no news whatsoever regarding a possible new contract offer for Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. That tells us everything that we need to know: The duo are leaving Arsenal.

Throughout the summer transfer window, the prominent story surrounding Arsenal centred on their growing crisis. With several players entering the final one or two years of their respective deals, there was an urgency that was beginning to engulf the short and long term state of the squad.

Related Story: Arsenal: 3 reasons Edinson Cavani Alexis Sanchez swap reeks

The most prominent of those questions have centred on just two players: Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. The duo, thanks to their superior quality, their similarities in stature, profile, and ability, have often been seen as the pioneering pair of the Arsenal squad; the only true world class players that the Gunners can boast to possess.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

Arsene Wenger, in the three years that the two have been in North London, has built his side around their complementary skills. Ozil’s vision, creativity, and passing; Sanchez’s drive, determination, and clinical streak. And with their two contracts both expiring in the summer of 2018, both have caused very similar problems for the club: an established, relied-upon star who could leave for nothing.

Perhaps surprisingly, Wenger decided to keep both Sanchez and Ozil in the summer, rejecting several bids in the process, including a deadline-day effort from Manchester City to reunite the former with old manager Pep Guardiola. That then raised the question of whether, in a last-gasp attempt, Arsenal would be able to agree on new contracts with the pair, however unlikely it seemed.

That question, though, has seemingly been answered in emphatic style. Two months into the new season and the only stories that have come out of the Ozil and Sanchez situations have been ones of restlessness and unsettlement.

There have been no suggestions that contract offers have even been considered, nevermind made or accepted. And the latest rumours state that Ozil is wanting to leave and is yet to receive an offer this season.

That tells us everything that we need to know. Although it was never probable that Ozil and Sanchez would stay beyond the end of the season on new deals, it would have at least been nice to see Wenger and the club try to keep hold of their best players, especially with the fact that they will receive nothing in compensation for losing them. That, though, it seems, has not happened.

Next: Arsenal: 3 players where the time has come to part ways

The lack of any desire or effort to try and convince Sanchez and Ozil to stay suggests to me that the Gunners have resigned themselves to losing the pair. That is not a surprise. It is, in fact, expected. But that does not make it any less disappointing.