Martin Keown would be pleased to see the back of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, but would that really help Arsenal Football Club?
The Gunners have been overshadowed with doubt with the duo both holding the club to ransom over their contractual situations, and both players are now permitted to talk to foreign clubs about potential free transfers this summer.
Alexis is believed to be set on teaming up with former boss Pep Guardiola at Man City, while Mesut Ozil’s future remains less clear.
Keown has now claimed that the situation has created a ‘bad smell’ at the club, and put boss Arsene Wenger in one of the worst situations of his managerial career, and he would now happily see the pair depart.
Keown said: “The other night [against Chelsea], [Mesut] Ozil – it was the first time I realised how good a player he was.
“He committed everything, he was quick, he was incisive in his play, and he was a different Ozil.
“He’s been holding back. I don’t want him at Arsenal if he is not going to commit to every match.
“Sanchez now looks like he’s trying to force that move out of the club. I just don’t like the feeling.
“There is a bad smell at the club and Arsene Wenger can never have been in a more difficult situation at the club.
“It must test him every day having to work in this situation.
“He’s been trying to get these players to sign for two and a half years.
“It’s a conversation which has never gone away and, really, what are you going to get for them now?
“Are they going to secure Champions League football?
“We‘re five points behind Liverpool who look like they are improving all the time.
“I don’t see Arsenal making it into the Champions League and Tottenham might struggle to make it into those four spaces.
“Winning the Europa League might be the only way of getting in there and that might only come at the 11th hour.”
Are Ozil and Alexis causing more damage than good this season? Could the team actually improve in their absence?
Pat J