Wenger promises star duo will be replaced by class acts
LONDON – Arsene Wenger moved to allay the fears of Arsenal fans on Tuesday saying he would replace both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil with world-class players should they end up leaving.
Both Sanchez, who came close to moving to Manchester City on the final day of the last transfer window in August, and Ozil's contracts are up at the end of the present season.
Sanchez's attitude and commitment to the club have been questioned by fans and some of his team-mates did not congratulate the 29-year-old Chilean after he scored a double in the 3-2 Premier League win over Crystal Palace last Thursday.
Wenger, whose transfer dealings have been a sore point with sections of the Arsenal support, said he would also be on the look-out for players in the present transfer window.
"We are open to any position for the exceptional player that can give us a plus. It depends a little bit on the injuries as well," said the Arsenal manager on the eve of their match with reigning Premier League champions Chelsea.
"On the other hand it depends if we manage to extend the contracts of the players who are at the end of their contracts in June.
"It will depend on that as well. We have to take the consequences of those decisions and respond to it.
"How we cope with that, first of all we have not lost them yet, and secondly we will respond to that by bringing in players of top quality.
"This club has lost many, many big players and has always responded well."
However, the 68-year-old Frenchman refuted suggestions he was targeting Chelsea's Brazil centre-back David Luiz or French international midfielder Thomas Lemar from Monaco.
The failure to sign 22-year-old Lemar back in August led to the collapse of the Sanchez move to Manchester City.
"I don't want to think about any special names, but these reports are wrong," said Wenger, whose side are currently fifth in the table, six points behind Liverpool in fourth but with a game in hand.
As for catching runaway leaders City, Wenger said there is the slimmest glimmer of hope for their rivals given their two recent performances – a 1-0 win away at struggling Newcastle United and then a 0-0 draw on Sunday against relegation-threatened Crystal Palace.
"They have shown signs of being less dominant," said Wenger, whose side are 21 points behind City.
"One of the teams behind need to have a perfect run and they (City) need to collapse a bit."
AFP