Are Arsenal contract sagas affecting Wenger’s team selections?

Arsenal have a number of first-team players into the final 12 months of their contracts, but is that affecting how the starting line-up is selected?

We have played out three matches so far this season, including the Community Shield win over Chelsea, and not once has the team been easy to predict. We have had some injuries which have forced us to shuffle a little, but is there underlying problems?

We have a number of players with less than a year on their current deals, such as Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere, and this could well be forcing Wenger’s decisions.

Alexis Sanchez is yet to feature for us because of a supposed injury, and we all fear that the injury is a cover-up as the transfer window rumbles over, but he would most certainly be starting in each match if he wasn’t part of this contract saga.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is one player who has played every single minute of our three outings so far this term, although starting as a left wing-back, which has forced new signing Sead Kolasinac into the back-three, and I have a feeling this is known not to be the best option.

The former Southampton youth product is being targeted by Premier League rivals according to reports, and is now set to be offered a new £125,000 per week deal to extend his stay in North-London, but after he signs, will he return to the bench?

Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey both started the last match against Stoke City, in which we lost 1-0, and the former has come under criticism for a lack of fight, and that could well be down to having an uncertain future, which raises a question as to his inclusion in the side.

Is our team selection being dictated by the contract issues we have at present? Would the Ox have played every minute so far if things had been different?

Pat J

18 Comments

  1. Definitely, it happened because of Arsenal’s staffs and board, not just because of Wenger. Had those people have more ambition and manage the club better, this mess will not happen.

    Only new people with more ambition and better financial power could transform Arsenal. Changing the staffs and the players alone will not solve all problems.

    1. Arsenal being a renowned football brand with a huge fan base around the world, plus being a big club is the capital city should attract plenty of interested investors and suitors who would want to take this club further. The biggest obstacle is Kroenke because as long as there is cash flow and profit to be made, then there is no obligation to sell. Hence we are in for long and difficult times as there doesn’t seem like any indication that would change. Unless the fans can unite and challenge the men up top and put a significant halt in their profits, sadly nothing will change. So it is in reality impossible for it to happen because Arsenal fans cannot unite together and proceed together a common goal.

  2. Really wish we could have signed Aurier and let him be our starting RB/RWB with Bellerin as backup. Give Ox a chance in the middle this season here and there and if it doesn’t work out let him go. Keeping Alexis and Özil beyond this season is a must as long as we add the quality needed to compliment them.

  3. I don’t know how far it is true but it is being reported today that the Ox has said that he will not sign an new deal with Arsenal. I am very concerned about this because if it is true, a line has been drawn in the sand and Wenger may have to sell the Ox before the transfer window closes.

    1. When Ox was doing so well the past season and showed huge strides in progress, Wenger himself decided to bench him again or play him out of position. How can a player looking to nail a place in England except such bit-part role and underappreciated from the manager? I don’t blame him if he wants to leave as he has taken the little chances that was offered to him in the last two seasons.

  4. Enos Stanley Kroenke is an American business entrepreneur. He is the owner of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Denver Nuggets of the NBA (crap), Colorado Avalanche of the NHL (crap), Colorado Rapids of Major League (crap), Los Angeles Rams of the NFL (crap), Arsenal Football Club (?).
    Net worth: 7.5 billion USD (2017).

    You think this guy is FOCUSED on Arsenal being a top club??? Really? So why would he be more focused on Arsenal over the other sheit sports organizations he owns???

  5. it may well be a pre-condition in a new players deal the assurance that player is given 1st team football. insistance on such terms in a contract can be the cause of problems if that assurance (of playing) is given to several players because the manager may not be able to accomodate everyones expectations.

    im assuming prior to signing for afc that kolasinac’s advisors will have negotiated and agreed to such a term (*that he must play) before eventually arsenal secured his signature. the result he comes directly into the first team and it could be a reason behind having to offset other players positions albeit temporarily.

    Its sometimes an ovetsight of the simplest detail that can result in mayhem on the pitch. last time I saw our team sheet it was the recipe for mayhem on the pitch. I was arrogant enough to believe that we could get away with it – but we got found out.

  6. We are in for a tough few years while Wenger and Kroenke are still involved. If you thought last season was hard to watch, this season is going to be worse.
    Look at the lack of summer transfers, Wengers team selection, formation.
    Sanchez will go, don’t think that because Wenger said he will stay that he will stay. Ox and Özil will play out there contracts this season if not sold. Ramsey still hasn’t signed. The place is toxic.
    Wenger will make a panic buy to try and appease the fans and some of you will fall for it. But it’s just papering over the cracks.
    It will be interesting if we get hammered by Liverpool this weekend.

    1. Even making a panic buy at the end of this transfer, does not matter how big a player he is, will not justify the years of underperforming and incompetence we have come to see of Arsenal Football Club. We have put ourselves so far back now in a position in order for us to catch up. If we continue down this route then we will require massive investment and overhaul to bring ourselves back to the top. The slow rot is real and is happening, if people cannot sre that by now then it means they are choosing to ignore the obvious.

  7. Honestly I hate this 3 at the back formation.
    Beside we need dm cb and replacement for Alexis Its the new tactics Wenger is pushing for that is causing us mess and troubles.

    1. Well he can’t go back to 4 at the back because we were even worse with that. I agree that we that badly need a DM though. Our central defenders seem to have no protection whatever formation Wenger plays.

    2. 442 diamond-like formation might work if we had the base of the diamond as a dedicated defensive midfielder role with Coquelin (or new addition, or even perhaps Elneny), playmaker at the top of the diamond, the side operating like wingers (or falling back for more defensive cover as required) and two strikers. I do like the 343 though or even a 352 Juve-like would be interesting, but with the 343 at least one of the inside 4 players has to focus on defense, or if both inside players of the 4 are allowed to bomb forward, disciplined cover roles/scheme for those situations must be made and perfected in training. Otherwise we’ll continue to get killed on counter attack chances multiple times per match.

  8. Will be interesting to see if Alexis actually plays v. Liverpool, and if so, if he’s going to be flat out and committed or going through the motions (assuming he is still with us then of course). If there’s another mysterious/potentially suspect strain, pull, “not fully fit” or whatever I think a lot more people will be calling BS. After that, if he’s still with the team, his first few matches after I think will be VERY telling about what we might or might not get from him this season and how much of a continuing distraction his contract & future will be.

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