Mahrez and Mbappe or Sanchez and Ozil?: Arsenal Influencers Choose Their Pick

This summer, Arsenal face difficult decisions over the futures of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. The Gunners' marquee men both have little under a year to run on their current contracts, and with no sign of imminent agreement on extensions, Arsene Wenger is left with a choice: sell them now, or risk losing them for nothing in 12 months' time.

The indications are that the Gunners will keep hold of them for next season—speaking to the Guardian, Wenger said he expects the pair to "respect their contracts." However, would the situation change if Arsenal were able to land a couple of high-profile replacements?

Wenger has been extensively linked with bids for Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe and Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez. On Mbappe, Wenger said, per Sky Sports:

"Nobody can say they are not interested in a player of that calibre, because he has such immense quality at 18 years of age. All the clubs are open and interested in him."

As for Mahrez, the Arsenal manager has done little to hide his interest, telling beIN Sports last month that "we have not made a bid, but personally, I like the player, yes." If Wenger were able to land both those targets, it could shift his position on Ozil and Alexis.

Bleacher Report wanted to find out what Arsenal fans would do if given the reigns in this transfer window, so we contacted a number of Gunners influencers to ask them a simple question: Ozil and Alexis or Mahrez and Mbappe?

Elliot Smith, aka YankeeGunner: Host of the Arsenal Vision Podcast

Twitter: @YankeeGunner

Pick: Sanchez and Ozil

Arsenal commentator Elliot Smith believes Arsenal are better off sticking with what they know. He said:

"Easy one. Alexis and Ozil. Mahrez dipped in form dramatically last season, and it's unclear whether he can recapture the quality of Leicester's title-winning campaign. Mbappe, while an electrifying talent, is young and moving leagues. We have to assume he would struggle for consistency and adapting to his new team.

"If it's one season, keeping our two best players gives us the best platform upon [in] which to build. And while we had a poor 2016-17 season, the point total was respectable and the signs once we switched to a back three were very encouraging, including comprehensively beating the champions in the cup final."

It's certainly true that any new signing represents a risk. Sanchez and Ozil are both known quantities—and provide proven quality.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

Jane Cavendish: Arsenal Fan and Blogger

Twitter: @jcav90

Pick: Sanchez and Ozil

Arsenal blogger Jane Cavendish believes Arsenal need to score more goals if they're to launch a sustained assault on the Premier League—and the best way in which to do that is to keep Alexis:

"To win the league, you probably need to score around 80 goals. Playing three at the back shored up our propensity to self-destruct defensively (perhaps temporarily), so almost certainly Wenger will start the season with this safety-first formation.

"So how do you squeeze 80 goals from a 3-4-3 formation, especially if you don't rely on counter-attacks as Chelsea did last season? Let's assume we score about 25 from set pieces; that leaves 55 to be found from open play. I don't think you can count on the wing-backs to make a major contribution nor on the central pairing of Ramsey and Xhaka to have a prolific season although they might all chip in here and there.

"Both Giroud and Walcott will have important roles coming off the bench, but the bulk of the goals will have to come from the starting front three.

"Let's assume Ozil and Mahrez will contribute roughly the same, maybe five-10 goals, then you're looking for major contributions from Lacazette (in his first season) and one of Mbappe or Alexis. No doubt Mbappe is an outstanding prospect with an xG of half a goal a game last season in France, which is unbelievable for an 18-year-old.

"But would it be too much to expect him to repeat that in the Premier League? Alexis, on the other hand, scored 24 league goals last season. He is the finished article. The real deal. If we want to have a shot at the league this season, it's quite simple. Alexis guarantees, as much as anyone can, the goals we need to win it."

Mbappe is a hugely exciting talent, but Cavendish clearly believes that Alexis is a more reliable goalscorer at present. Given his consistency over the last three seasons, it's difficult to argue with that assessment.

Raymond Herlihy: REDaction fan group

Twitter: @REDactionAFC

Pick: Sanchez and Ozil

Perhaps Arsenal fans are simply a risk-averse bunch, but fan group organiser Raymond Herlihy is also sticking with Alexis and Ozil:

"Sanchez is certainly my No. 1 pick: Only Arsenal fans could moan about a player who tots up 30 goals and 15 assists in a single season. Ozil is important to the way we play, despite not being part of the Harry Redknapp 'run around a bit' school of football so infuriates as many as he pleases.

"Both are proven Premier League talents, compared to Mahrez who may never get close to those title and POTY-winning highs again, and Mbappe carries some risk due to his age and enormous transfer fee."

It seems that lots of Arsenal fans view the mooted signings of Mbappe and Mahrez as too great a risk to trade in their top stars.

Jamie Dalton: Arsenal blogger for You Are My Arsenal

Twitter: @JamieDalton82

Pick: Sanchez and Ozil

Blogger Jamie Dalton is yet another who favoured sticking with the tried-and-tested option:

"Sanchez and Ozil—Alexis is just wired differently to every other player at Arsenal. He's one of those players who can have a 6/10 game but score two goals and they are a premium. Ozil will benefit from having Lacazette this season.

"The problem with Mbappe is how does he deal with being a £100 million player at 18 and is Mahrez a busted flush after that season? I'm going tried and tested."

Consistency seems to be a critical factor here. Mahrez has already underperformed for most of last season, while there is considerable doubt over whether Mbappe can maintain the level of performance he showed last spring.

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

Pablo: Arsenal blogger and reputable source

Twitter: @AFCamden

Pick: Sanchez and Ozil

Continuing on a theme, Arsenal sage Pablo has opted to stick rather than twist:

"Sanchez and Ozil, without doubt. [I'm] Personally not convinced on Mahrez (don't think Wenger is 100 per cent convinced either), and while Mbappe is the hottest talent around, Sanchez is proven in this league and Mesut Ozil is the type of player that doesn't come around too often. 

"Keeping what we have is just as much of a win for Arsenal as signing marquee players. [It] Signals a change in mentality and ambition."

His last point is a good one. Keeping hold of these symbolic players has a particular value to Arsenal.

Gingers For Limpar: Arsenal blogger

Twitter: @Gingers4Limpar

Pick: Mahrez and Mbappe

Finally, we've found an Arsenal influencer willing to trade in Ozil and Sanchez for two new faces. Julian of Gingers For Limpar said:

"I'd take Mahrez/Mbappe for a change of scenery, purely to alleviate the boredom. But, ultimately, we have proved incapable of challenging for the title with the exceptionally talented Alexis and Ozil, and that would be extremely unlikely to change with different personnel."

It seems he doesn't hold out much hope of a title challenge regardless of personnel so would enjoy the novelty of watching some new players in action.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and follows the club from a London base.