We have to realise that a player thinking of signing for or staying with Arsenal, or any other top flight club for that matter, will be influenced quite a bit by the wages on offer, especially if it is around the £200,000 a week mark that the new Gunners forward Alexandre Lacazette is said to be on. I would even play for Tottenham for that sort of money!!!
But at the same time we still hear about how difficult it is to sign and/or keep the really top players if you are not winning or at least getting close to major trophy honours each year. That certainly seems to be true of our Chile international star Alexis Sanchez, although the striker is also reportedly looking for a big pay rise included in any new contract offer.
Hopefully Arsene Wenger will be able to offer Alexis enough money but can he offer him a real chance of winning the Premier League title? With the transfer from Lyon this week of Alexandre Lacazette he can certainly make a case, and it looks like the club are not done yet, with players like Mahrez and Lemar strongly linked and the very highly rated Kolasinac already signed on a free.
At least two former Gunners have said they believe this transfer action will go a long way to persuading Sanchez to stay at Arsenal, with Nigel Winterburn’s comments in The Mirror and Charlie Nicholas saying on Sky Sports that he is now more confident and hopeful about our star striker.
He said, “I do genuinely think they are signing a guy who if he comes in with a pedigree like Ian Wright or even the way young [Nicholas] Anelka did when he was at Arsenal – he reminds me a little of that situation.
“I am very hopeful that [Mesut] Ozil will sign. The midfield creative side will be fine- he will enjoy that and he should score some guaranteed goals for Arsenal.
“The statement is to say to [Alexis] Sanchez and others we are serious to get back challenging for the title and we are serious about getting back into the Champions League again. It is a big statement of intent from Arsenal.”
Winterburn said, “I hope the Lacazette deal leaves [Sanchez] at the club. He can play on the left, up front or in the hole. Arsenal cannot afford to bring in Lacazette then two weeks later Sanchez leaves.
“I am hoping Wenger can persuade him to stay for another season, see what happens with the team then sign a new contract.”
Do you guys think Arsenal’s transfer action will convince Alexis that we are serious about winning things?
Bob.