Arsenal have only to some extent addressed the uncertainly plaguing the Emirates this summer following what a disastrous season in 2016-17.
Arsene Wenger decided to extend his 21-year stint at the Emirates by another two years in a move that had discouraged a significant portion of the club supporters.
Without Champions League football for the first time since 1998, the 2016/17 FA Cup winner have looked to the transfer market in a bid to launch themselves back to their expected standards.
Arsenal’s £46.5 million signing of Alexandre Lacazette shows a genuine statement of intent, but it’s nowhere near enough to achieve total calm at the club.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are no closer to confirming their plans for next season as both players enter the final year of their respective contracts with Arsenal.
While the Chilean and German duo are the most high-profile stars refusing to extend their deals with Arsenal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere are in a similar position.
The current state of play means even if each of them chooses to extend their stay on for 2017-18, they could leave for free next summer.
Yet somehow the Gunners boss isn’t bothered by this – in fact, he believes it gives his side an edge.
“Not at all. I think it’s an ideal situation. Because everybody has to perform,” he said after his side lost 2-1 to Sevilla at the Emirates Cup on Sunday, per ESPN.
“When you’re a football player you perform until the last day of your contract. What does it change if you have two years on one year to go?
“If you go out on the football pitch you want to play and to do well. I don’t understand, do you really think that you sit in the dressing room before the game and think, ‘Oh I have only one year to go, I will not play well today.’ Where does that come from?
“When you’re a football player you want to go out and play and do as well as you can. What does that have to do with the length of your contract?”
Wenger has enraged Arsenal fans as they ponder how their club will compete next season and beyond if he continues employing such strange methods.
Check out some of the reaction on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/sparegunner/status/891757484242853889
The mans more deluded than I thought #WengerOut
— Clock End Gooner (@AlexJack79) July 30, 2017
He does not know what he is saying. Delusional mental case. Lock him up
— Ash (@Ash7931) July 31, 2017
this man never fails to fucking amaze me..some of the stuff he comes out with
— ?? (@batmans_cagoule) July 30, 2017
Wenger should stop saying that rubbish, putting the club on pressure it not ideal fr any reason.
— Olamilekan Saheed (@talk2heedman) July 30, 2017
I bet all of the rivals agree
— Rocky Hsieh (@RockyHsieh) July 30, 2017
What's he smoking over there?
— Paul newton* (@Paulnewton2271) July 30, 2017
He's officially one card short of a full deck.
— Long Live Rock n Roll ? (@WrenchSwinger06) July 30, 2017
Coming from Arsène, I have to say I am not surprised at all.
— r (@r_gbretoux) July 30, 2017
Confirming he should b in the nut house.
— john rivett (@JohnRivo71) July 30, 2017
GrandPa Wenger is losing big time, in denial!!
— MALUNDA (@cebisa44) July 31, 2017
The Frenchman’s approach to player contracts is certainly unimpressive compared to how the biggest clubs in Europe lock away their top stars.
If Wenger keeps up this kind of commentary, the ‘Wenger Out’ banners could return in big numbers next season. Just watch out!