All the Arsenal transfer rumours have been about Alexis Sanchez leaving and his possible replacements, but suddenly Wenger springs a surprise and sells Francis Coquelin to Valencia for 12m GBP. Wenger explained: “He goes to Valencia. He didn’t get enough games with us this season. He had an opportunity. I let him go.”
It seems strange especially as we seem to be lacking midfielders right now!
But Wenger also spoke about the Alexis Sanchez situation, and unless the Boss is telling porkies it looks like the Chilean will not be leaving this month, as Le Prof is still harbouring hopes that Alexis will sign a new contract before June.
Alexis only played the last 25 minutes at Chelsea last night, but Wenger insists that decision had nothing to do with any transfer talks. “The performance of Alexis Sanchez and the commitment does not depend on the duration of his contract, just depends on the fact when he’s on the football pitch he wants to play,” Wenger said.
“People don’t know Alexis Sanchez. This is a guy completely focused on playing football.
“Did you see how he came on today? How he warmed up? Like a player who wants to play football.
“He can make a difference between what’s going on outside and what’s going on on the football pitch.
“He doesn’t need to tell me he speaks to anybody else. He doesn’t need to alert the club. He can do it on his own.
“We live with facts, not with psychological theories. When you come on to the pitch you play football and give 100 per cent. That’s what he does.”
And as for Alexis signing a new contract, Wenger said: “I want him to stay for longer,”
“I have no problem if he signs with us now or in June.”
So it looks like Pep Guardiola is going to have to wait until the summer to get his man, but who else could Arsenal sell after Coquelin?
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