Arsene Wenger’s love for Arsenal is evident in everything he does. However, the Frenchman’s ways of handling the club’s affairs has led to a very frustrating period for the Gunners fans, who have to spend more than any other supporters in the world to witness their club in action.
Arsenal have always been lagging behind in the transfer market in past years and the club’s current wage structure has been the root of their problems.
The cloud of doubt hanging over the futures of Arsene Wenger, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil has given rise to question over the club’s ability to keep pace with the other top clubs in England. If their archaic wage structure has been demolished at the beginning of the just concluded season, there would be a better chance of Sanchez and Ozil penning a new deal.
However, there is still some good news for the Arsenal fans to savor. Wenger has confirmed that Ozil and Sanchez will not be leaving in the summer – as he said tobeIN Sports (reported by both ESPN and FourFourTwo) earlier this week – unless Wenger is able to acquire players of similar quality in the transfer market.
The French manager is willing to lose out on the duo as their contract run out next summer with the hope that they would be able to help the club in their title race next season. With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also seemingly intent on signing an extension, as reported by the Telegraph, things look bright.
Wenger believes Ozil and Sanchez could sign new deals, but is well aware that the existing wage cap will have to be rechecked if hope to retain them at the Emirates. It also looks like Wenger is getting rid of some of the inactive players in the squad.
Yaya Sanogo has been released to leave the club after four years, and it also seem several others will be following him out of the club in the summer, according to ESPN.
It would not come as a surprise if more players leave in the summer, with a number of players linked and Sead Kolasinac already committed to the club with a five-year deal after moving from Schalke for free.
If Arsene Wenger should stick with his new 3-4-3 formation, which saw the Gunner defeat the Premier League champions Chelsea, then it is possible that Callum Chambers will stay beyond the season at the club and increase the depth at the back.
Kolasinac has reportedly been a handed a contract worth £150,000 per week, as per report by the Daily Star, making it convincing that Alexis Sanchez has been presented with a £280,000 per week deal, according to the Telegraph
With the wage cap re-examined, it would not only be easy for Wenger to keep hold of his players, it would also make joining the squad a much more attractive prospect, despite the lack of Champions League football next season.
Their failure to land a spot in the Champions League next season might be the reason Arsenal will have to break their existing financial structure in order to avoid mass exit from the club. Particularly with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City paying their giving a paycheck above £200,000.
It is expected that Liverpool are also likely to break their wage cap this summer as they look to add more depth to their squad in anticipation of Champions League football next season. The only two clubs who have not made any indication that clear if they will be doing the same are the two North London rivals, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
This summer promises to be a huge one in the Premier League, but no club needs to have a big summer as much as the Gunners after their miserable campaign last season. The only way to make Alexis Sanchez stay on with the team may be to become a true title contender. Winning the title will definitely convince him to stay.