Arsenal vs. West Brom: Arsene Wenger Talks Mesut Ozil, Future, More in Presser

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are keen to stay at the football club beyond this season. 

With neither player signing a new deal this term, there have links to moves elsewhere for the pair; Marca's Luis F. Rojo claimed Barcelona are interested in Ozil, while Bayern Munich are looking at Sanchez according to AS Chile (h/t the London Evening Standard).

But speaking to the media on Wednesday ahead of his side’s clash with West Brom on Thursday, Wenger was positive in the case of both players, per John Cross of the Daily Mirror:

There are, however, a lot of Arsenal supporters who wouldn’t be keen on seeing the manager at the club next season in the wake of this disappointing campaign. Nevertheless, Wenger insisted at the press conference he will not be walking away before his contract is up next summer, per Kevin Palmer of the Independent:

While there’s been a lot of talk about what’s going to happen in the future at Arsenal, Wenger still has a job to do.

By the time the Gunners kick off on Thursday night they could find themselves just one point clear of Manchester United in fourth spot, with the Red Devils, currently four points back, set to face Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Having looked as though the club was going to challenge for the title race this season, the Emirates Stadium regulars are restless.

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Wenger has insisted it’s tough not to be influenced when the supporters have shown such anger and unrest, per Cross:

David Hytner of the Guardian has reported that it’s a game a lot of supporters could stay away from, with plenty of seats available via the club’s official ticket exchange and some on general sale.

Wenger thinks the Thursday kick-off has played a part in supporters not wanting to come to the stadium, although he isn't oblivious to the fact form is a contributing factor, per Jacob Murtagh of the Daily Mirror:

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Look, everybody is free to do what he wants with his season ticket. We have to live with that. It’s a Thursday night, it’s unusual [for a kick-off time]. We just had a disappointing result at home, maybe that plays a part as well. First of all it’s not experienced yet and we have to live with that.

Yeah, maybe (the disillusionment is more pronounced), but we have to take that with distance as well, and focus on our job. The emotional part in our game is always very high but changes very quickly as well. Judgment from people [is something] we have to live with. It’s down to us to change that belief and judgment.

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The manager also insisted that while the team hasn’t been as clinical as it should in the last couple of encounters, there’s no lack of effort, per the official Arsenal Twitter feed:

Wenger provided an update on the fitness of various players on Wednesday, stating the game will come too soon for Jack Wilshere, who has been stepping up his recovery with the club’s under-21 team.

“Everyone is available from our last game against Palace,” he said, per Murtagh. “Wilshere has absorbed well his first obstacle. In every game he was sharper, he has a good fitness basis. He is available for selection from next game (Sunderland) onwards.”

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Wenger also had some positive news about the fitness of the long-term absentee Santi Cazorla:

Instead of looking over their shoulder at the likes of Manchester United and West Ham United, the Arsenal boss insisted they will continue to look up the table. “We want to finish as high as we can,” he said, per Murtagh. “It is not about consolation, it is about getting the best out of the team.”

Even a strong finish to the season will not be enough for some supporters to change their mind when it comes to Wenger. This was a term in which everything was set up brilliantly for the Gunners to challenge for the title and, once again, when the pressure has been on, they’ve come up short.

This is typically the time of the campaign when, free of the expectations of a title chase, Arsenal come to life. So despite their poor showing Sunday, it’d be no surprise if they did turn over West Brom with a swagger on Thursday. Anything less and things could quickly turn toxic between now and the end of the season.