Is Arsenal boss eyeing title charge with Ozil/Alexis decision?

Arsenal manager Arsenal Wenger has ruled out any potential January sales of Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez.

The Gunners have climbed inside the top four for the first-time since beating Leicester on the opening weekend of the campaign, and there is now talk of a possible title surge.

Petr Cech has refused to rule out challenging for top spot, although admits that their bid relies on a downturn in fortunes of other rivals.

Following our important win over Burnley, Arsene Wenger has now moved to rule out any key departures of key duo Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez come January, despite the pair being able to leave on a free transfer come the end of the term.

Wenger said: “Yes. Of course. I rule it out.

“I don’t think every day about it. As long as they are here, they have to give their all for the club.

“In my head, they are here until the end of the season. That was the decision at the start of the season.

“Unless something incredible happens, I don’t think that will change. We are not in December yet!

“For me, they stay until the end of the season. Will they stay longer? That is impossible to answer today.

“But they have a contract until the end of the season.”

Asked if they will still be in north London next season, Wenger added: “I am not the only one who decides that.”

The pair are both beginning to hit top form currently, along with a number of other players, and the January window could well prove difficult whether we were to allow the pair to leave or not.

Interest from other clubs could well turn their heads, but the Arsenal boss seems adamant to keep the duo concentrated on their football by ruling out any exits.

The pair may well be needed in our push to finish in the top four, but ultimately we would of course have one eye on a possible push for the title should the chance arise, and Wenger may well pin his hopes on the superstar duo to land our first PL trophy win in 14 years.

Does Wenger actually mean that he won’t consider any exits in January or is he simply blowing smoke in our eyes like he did in the summer? Would we still have any hope of closing on Manchester City without the pair?

Pat J

Tags Arsenal Ozil Sanchez Wenger

21 Comments

  1. Whatever our ambitions are for the season and whatever lies in the immediate future for us,all of it will go right through AS-07 and MÖ-11. They are two of our best players and if they can keep doing whatever they can do on the pitch we will surely have a fruitful enough season 4 sure…..

  2. Hmm..pushing there price up for Jan window?

    Ozil is one I want gone . 10 great performances a season for 4 years …and all these mystery illnesses ..which rule him out of difficult games …wenger gives him special treatment…an this is thanks he gets
    Barca can have him

    1. Agree. Ideally, Sanchez signs a contract extension and Ozil leaves in January for another club (any league would be fine for me). The last time Ozil created an assist was from a set piece situation, for Mustafi’s header.

      I prefer another attacking midfielder that can create more assists from open play schemes. We have got Lacazette and Sanchez next to Ozil, but we have not seen more Ozil’s assists for them.

      If you saw how Spain played against Albania and Italy in the World Cup qualification matches, you would see Silva, Isco and Thiago chased, pressurized and tackled their opponents. They worked very hard and this type of attacking midfielder that Arsenal really need currently.

  3. Hello Admin,
    do you think three out of last six posts on the same topic is not too much?
    And expecially when we have no chance to go for anything this season… out problem is much bigger then Ozil and Sanchez contracts… and a reason why they didn’t sign a new ones is cos well known, and its not just about money!
    Know you need clicks but…

      1. Subject: Arsenal as title contenders for this season.
        Although we are bringing great people to the club ( Raul Sanllehi from Barca and Sven Mislintat from Dortmund) we need to say thank you to our Manager. Maybe this is a real prep for future without Wenger but somehow I dnt believe that Board will realy buy those two top players we are always short of.
        So maybe even next year smething will happen on that front…
        Those are the topics which I think are interesting right now, not near future dreams.

    1. Neymar is trickier, Justin Kluivert is fast like Memphis Depay. I would say Mbappe is the most talented forward currently.

  4. Sorry to go off topic but brilliant comment by Sean Dyche to berate the reporter for suggesting that Ramsey took a dive. I liked this fellow before and like him even more now. Hope he replaces the wimp and Spuds fan Southgate for the England job. Also Wenger could take a few lessons from this guy as well

  5. This is hardly a surprise. Once Ozil and Sanchez were not sold in the summer they were always going to stay until the end of the season and then go on a Bosman. If we sold in January then maybe £20 mil the pair (if they agreed to go) and that is not worth it. As for a title charge – are you taking the you know what? Two games undefeated, admittedly important games, and we are going to win the league? Do me a favour. If we finish fourth be grateful.

    1. I agree with you Ivan, Admin is definitely getting a bit excited but we have to keep them if only to get into the top four, then hopefully we’ll be able to attract better players with Champions League football

      1. i’m hoping he will persuade them both to sign a new contract and throw in a Directors box for me 🙂

        yes even Ozil if he carried on playing like he has been but his more ill then on the pitch these days

        1. Ozil should stay! He is a world class.
          Are you telling me that Ramsey has done more for this club in the last 4 years? No way, look at the stats to wake up.

    1. That is not what happens when the players are available for free four months later. We may as well keep the players until the end of the season now.

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