Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil guarantee anything but

Arsene Wenger has stated that he expects Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to stay at Arsenal. But given his history, his words, unfortunately, carry very little meaning.

The futures of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are problems that were always going to dominate the media mill of this Arsenal season. Given their importance to the team, the profile that both boast, and the competition to secure their services, it is natural that they are the centre of the attention. Anything but would be a little odd.

Throughout the year, up until this point, there has been much discussion about when, and where, the pair the leave. Notice how that line of questioning does not include the word ‘if’. This is not an ‘if’ problem; it is a ‘when’ one.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

And came to prominence once more on Tuesday, as Arsene Wenger was asked about a January departure in his pre-match press conference ahead of Huddersfield Town’s trip to the Emirates. Wenger, when posited with the possibility of the pair leaving in the winter window, was somewhat categorical in his denial, stating that something ‘unbelievable’ would have to happen for the pair to leave:

"“Yes, I rule it out. I do not think about that every day. At the moment, as long as they are here, they have to give their best for the team and for the club. In my head, they stay until the end of the season and that’s a decision that was taken at the start of the season. Unless something unbelievable happens, I can’t see why that would change.”"

But Wenger’s words, especially in regards to the transfer market and the possible exits that may take place, carry little meaning. He has a long record of predicting, or even promising, in some cases, one thing, only to see the exact opposite take place just months, weeks, or even days, later.

Just this summer, for example, Wenger stated that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would not be sold. By the end of the window, he was on his way to Liverpool in a £40 million deal. Other examples like Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas all point to that being true.

Moreover, as has been seen many times in recent seasons, this is a club, and a board, driven by money. They may be frightened by the prospect of losing their two most valuable assets for nothing. The January window offers their last chance to scrape back at least some semblance of value.

Next: Arsenal: 4 expiring contracts to target in January

So while Wenger may offer what sounds like a guarantee that Ozil and Alexis will be with the club until the end of the year, his track record suggests something very different. He is a wily and experienced manager. He knows that words mean little, and actions mean everything. This is very much a case of ‘I will believe it when I see it’, and I won’t see it until January 31st.

Home/Arsenal News