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Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Exit Rumours on Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez
March 10, 2017
Arsenal are reportedly growing increasingly concerned that both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez could be on their way out of the club this summer.
According to John Cross of the Daily Mirror, after the Gunners' humiliating 10-2 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, both of the team's attacking stars are considering departing. The duo have contracts that are set to expire at the end of the 2017-18 season.
Ozil is said to have been offered a contract worth £280,000-a-week, and he's been linked with a possible switch to the German giants, as noted by Cross. "That is a sign that Bayern are stepping up a charm offensive as they look to take advantage of his contract situation," it’s noted.
As for Sanchez, it's claimed manager Arsene Wenger is "close to breaking point with the high maintenance Chilean star." As relayed in the report, the Gunners boss is said to have benched the forward for the showdown with Liverpool last weekend after a row in training.
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly leading the chase for Sanchez's signature, although Chelsea and Juventus are also credited with an interest.
Speculation over Wenger's position—his contract is up at the end of the campaign—has fuelled the uncertainty around the Emirates Stadium. Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones believes the club could benefit if all three key figures decided to move on:
Of Sanchez and Ozil, the latter has always felt the most likely to stick around, and Arsenal supporters will be concerned by suggestions Bayern are positioning themselves for a summer chase.
Although Ozil is often maligned for supposedly going missing in big games, he's still a crucial player at the Emirates Stadium. His technical ability and eye for a pass brings an attacking verve to the Gunners that few players in world football are capable of matching.
As these numbers from OptaJoe showcase, alongside Sanchez, the German has been the most creative player in the Arsenal team in recent seasons:
The fact that Sanchez has scored so many goals in that time period as well shows just how vital he is to Arsenal's play in the final third.
This season in particular, the versatility of the Chile international has been a staple of Arsenal's best play. Sanchez has thrived as the man at the point of the attack for the team, marrying his many attacking qualities with an aggression and intensity the likes of Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck can't match.
Indeed, when Sanchez was benched for the recent trip to Liverpool in the Premier League, Arsenal were devoid of attacking impetus, with none of the front four willing to take responsibility; the improvement was enormous when the 28-year-old was introduced at half-time.
But it's clear all is not well amid reports of a bust up. On Tuesday, the forward was caught smirking on the bench during the Gunners' hammering at the hands of Bayern. Jack Lang of the Daily Mirror thinks the player knew what he was doing:
If Arsenal are going to compete for the biggest prizes in the game moving forward, it's important they have world-class operators like Sanchez and Ozil at the club. However, as the days tick by with no sign of progress over an extension, speculation will only gather pace.
Perhaps this summer may not be the worst time for a fresh start at the club, though, especially if Wenger walks away and a new era is ushered in at the Emirates.